ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Cleansing Services Group Ltd.

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she expects to receive the Environment Agency's third report on the explosion at Cleansing Services Group Ltd., in Sandhurst, Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when she will make a decision on holding a public inquiry into the explosion at Cleansing Services Group Ltd., Sandhurst, Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The joint Environment Agency and HSE investigation surrounding the fire of October 2000 is principally complete. However, the agency is undertaking excavations beneath concreted areas at the site to investigate allegations that hazardous waste was buried below the transfer station in the early 1990s. Excavations at the site commenced in mid March. Given the co-operation of the company, the agency expect to complete the excavations and associated investigations next month. In the light of which we will make a decision on whether or not to hold a public inquiry.

Household Waste Recycling

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to increase the UK's recycling of household waste; and what funds the Government plan to make available for this purpose.

Michael Meacher: "Waste Strategy 2000" announced challenging targets to increase the amount of municipal waste recycled and composted in England and Wales. These targets are:
	To recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005
	To recycle or compost at least 30 per cent. of household waste by 2010.
	To ensure that local authorities contribute to achieving these targets, the Government have set Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting for individual authorities. These can be found in the Government's "Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies", published in March 2001. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library and from the DEFRA website: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ waste/management/guidance/mwms/index.htm
	The Government have increased funding for the Environmental Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block, which includes waste management, by £1.1 billion over the SR2000 period. There is also a ring-fenced fund of £140 million for local authority recycling and £220 million for waste Private Finance Initiative projects over the same period. Councils will also benefit from the £40 million to the Waste and Resources Action Programme to overcome market barriers to reuse and recycling of waste.
	Following a recent consultation on the £140 million fund, DEFRA has opted for a selective distribution. At the end of March this year we issued guidelines and formally invited applications from local authorities. These guidelines can be downloaded from the DEFRA website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/wastefund/ index.htm.

Advertising

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of media advertising in each of the past five parliamentary Sessions including the current session, for her Department in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland; and for the last two parliamentary Sessions and the current parliamentary Session, what the media advertising expenditure was per month in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland.

Elliot Morley: As DEFRA was created in June 2001 annual retrospective media expenditure analysis by territory location does not exist.
	Since the formation of DEFRA our records show a total for centralised media publicity expenditure of £2,589,289. This excludes expenditure relating to foot and mouth disease.
	The expenditure analysis set out in the table identifies three territorial areas: England, England and Wales and the United Kingdom.
	De-centralised expenditure incurred by non-departmental public bodies, agencies and DEFRA directorates has not been included as obtaining this information could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	
		DEFRA centrally funded media publicity expenditure -- £ thousand
		
			  England England and Wales United Kingdom Total 
		
		
			 June 2001 33,585 37,078 21,512 92,175 
			 July 2001 11,983 72,676 — 84,659 
			 August 2001 24,570 33,373 131,229 189,172 
			 September 2001 62,801 44,180 126,895 233,876 
			 October 2001 45,343 41,630 236,786 323,759 
			 November 2001 14,358 37,664 144,688 196,710 
			 December 2001 115,698 16,019 64,664 196,381 
			 January 2002 12,774 96,722 224,856 334,352 
			 February 2002 33,812 37,357 238,502 309,671 
			 March 2002 60,896 117,229 450,404 628,529 
			  
			 Total 415,820 533,928 1,639,536 2,589,284

Rio Earth Summit (Implementation)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to (a) set goals on environmental protection and (b) improve eco-efficiency and resource productivity relating to health and the environment issues; and what these (i) goals and (ii) improvements have been.

Michael Meacher: The Government set out its targets for safeguarding people's health and protecting the environment from air pollution in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1997 and revised in January 2000. It includes health-based standards for eight pollutants of main concern and objectives for their achievement between 2003 and 2008 together with objectives to be met by 2000 for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems. Good progress has been made towards achieving most of the targets as a result of the measures put in place by central Government and local authorities. We are, for example, broadly on track to meet our policy objectives for carbon monoxide, benzene, 1,3 butadiene, lead and sulphur dioxide, but we will need to do more to meet our targets for nitrogen dioxide, particles and ozone. We have met the objectives for vegetation and ecosystems. The strategy is kept under continuous review and last year we consulted on proposals to tighten several of the current objectives and to add a further objective.
	The Government have successfully negotiated and adopted various agreements, both with our partners in Europe and internationally, which will reduce emissions of harmful substances to the air. We are committed to meeting all of the mandatory limit values prescribed by EU legislation. To comply with the EC Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) the UK Government passed the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) regulations which came into force on 1 August 2000, under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. Separate arrangements apply the IPPC Directive to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the offshore oil and gas industries.
	IPPC applies an integrated environmental approach to the regulation of industrial activities. Emissions to aid, water (including discharge to sewer) and land, plus a range of other environmental effects (including noise, vibration and odour) must be considered together. IPPC aims to conserve energy, prevent emissions and waste production and, where not practicable, reduce them to acceptable levels. IPPC also takes the integrated approach beyond the initial task of permitting, through to the restoration of sites when industrial activities cease.
	On resource productivity the Government commissioned a major study headed by the Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit. Its recent report, "Resource Productivity: Making more with less", identifies the scope for significant environmental and business benefits. We are committed to following up the report, which includes recommendations on establishing a long-term strategy with indicative targets, policy to encourage innovation in sustainable technologies, and action to integrate sustainable development objectives with the business of Government procurement.

Abandoned Vehicles

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures have been introduced since 1997 to combat car dumping and increase removal of deserted vehicles.

Michael Meacher: We have supported pilot schemes in the London boroughs of Newham and Lewisham in which the local authority was given DVLA's powers to wheelclamp and remove unlicensed vehicles after 24 hours. The London borough of Wandsworth joined the scheme on 23 April. We announced the extension of the scheme nationally on 10 April.
	In October 2001 we published a consultation document on measures to remove abandoned and untaxed vehicles from the streets more quickly and, for the longer term, bring forward changes to vehicle registration and licensing procedures to ensure greater accuracy of DVLA's vehicle record.
	Regulations to reduce the statutory notice periods after which local authorities can remove abandoned vehicles and the storage periods for unlicensed vehicles were laid before the House on 19 March and came into force on 9 April.
	Kent police piloted a "blitz" approach (Operation Cubit) on abandoned vehicles in the Medway area in co-operation with Kent county council, Medway council, DVLA and the Kent Fire Brigade for eight weeks in early 2001 and the Home Office has commissioned a detailed evaluation of the pilot which has been academically assessed and circulated to other stakeholders for comments, including the Kent police and Kent county council. It is hoped that it will be published in the near future.
	Since the original pilot, similar operations have taken place and are shown in the table.
	
		Operation Cubit
		
			 Area Date 
		
		
			 Swanley June 2001 
			 Dartford October 2001 
			 Gravesend October 2001 
			 Maidstone January 2002 
			 Swale January 2002 
			 Hastings February 2002 
			 Brighton February 2002 
			 Liverpool March 2002 
		
	
	To date the operations have removed almost 3,000 abandoned unlicensed vehicles from the streets of Kent and Hastings.
	The response to the consultation paper is now available at www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/consult/abandon/response/ index.htm.

Pesticide Residues

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to encourage children to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables; and if she will make a statement on her policy towards pesticide residues found in these foods.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 10 April 2002
	DEFRA works closely with the Department of Health on its initiatives to encourage increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, including the National School Fruit Scheme. The Pesticide Residues Committee advises the Secretary of State on a monitoring programme for pesticide residues in food and drink, including fruit and vegetables. The monitoring programme and its results are described in the annual report of the committee and are available on the internet at http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/committees/prc/ prc per cent.5Fannual per cent.5Frep per cent.5F2000.pdf.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the target has been in each of the last five years for efficiency savings as a percentage of total running costs for each of the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible; and if the target was met.

Elliot Morley: Chapter 2 of the Treasury's guidance "Non Departmental Public Bodies: Annual Reports and Accounts Guidance" requires executive NDPBs to provide, as part of their annual reports, information about the performance and efficiency targets agreed with their sponsor Departments and performance against those targets.
	The annual reports and accounts of the Department's executive self-accounting NDPBs are laid before Parliament each year and copies placed in the House Library.

New Deal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people employed by the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible under the New Deal for Young People in each of the last four years have subsequently (a) found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks and (b) returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits.

Elliot Morley: Of the non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) for which DEFRA is responsible, only one employs staff under the New Deal for Young People. Since 1998 that body has appointed 14 people on to the scheme, nine of whom have subsequently found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks. Information on those returning to jobseeker's allowance or other benefits is not available.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Private Finance Initiative projects have been subject to refinancing after the contracts have been signed; and what has been the financial effect in each case.

Elliot Morley: One Private Finance Initiative project, Brooklands Avenue Cambridge, has been subject to refinancing after the contract had been signed. The financial effect was to achieve a net present value saving to the Department of around £515,000 over 15 years, which represents a broadly equitable share of the potential refinancing gain. No other departmental PFI projects have been subject to refinancing.

Better Quality Services Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the services of her Department have not been reviewed under the Better Quality Services Initiative; and when they will be reviewed.

Elliot Morley: The Better Quality Services (BQS) programme was launched in 1998 and adopted by the Cabinet Office in the Modernising Government White Paper of 1999 as a means of delivering continuous improvements in the quality and effectiveness of Government activities and services. It requires all Government Departments to review every activity and service over a five year period starting in October 1999. The scheme covers all activities in Departments, agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies, and is similar in remit to the Best Value programme in local government.
	Following the creation of DEFRA in June 2001, we intend to launch a value for money programme that will review every major function in the Department at least once every five years.
	Two major BQS reviews, of the DEFRA Estate and Personnel, are scheduled to take place during the current financial year.

Energy Efficiency

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates she has received of the change in energy efficiency since 1997 of (a) processing in the industrial sector, (b) heating and lighting in the industrial sector, (c) heating and lighting in the commercial sector, (d) business machinery and information control technology in the commercial sector and (e) heating and lighting in the domestic sector; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: In the domestic sector our most up to date estimate of the change in overall energy efficiency is that it improved by 1 per cent. per annum over the period 1995–2000.
	For industry and commerce, energy consumption statistics are collected by fuel but not by end use, so indicators are available only for overall energy consumption. No direct measure exists of "energy efficiency" changes for industry as a whole. However, changes in "energy intensity" (ie energy per unit of output) are routinely published by DTI 1 . These are the result of both efficiency changes and structural ones (eg from changing product mix within an industry). Estimates of changes in energy efficiency can be derived from these data and have been calculated up to 1998 for industry. Over the period 1990 to 1998, we estimate an average annual improvement in energy efficiency of about 0.6 per cent. per annum was achieved in industry.
	As part of the Government response to the recent PIU Energy Review, we will consider its recommendation to establish energy efficiency indicators for each sector of the economy.
	1 Energy intensity indicators for industry, commerce and a number of individual industries are given in the DTI publication "UK Energy Sector Indicators".

GM Crops

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who was responsible for the crop management of the Farm Scale Evaluation at Sunnymead Farm, Wivenhoe in 2000; when the GM maize, planted at Sunnymead Farm, was sprayed with herbicide; and when the crop was sprayed with glufosinate ammonium.

Michael Meacher: Management of the crops in the Farm Scale Evaluations is undertaken by the farmer hosting each individual trial, with SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) providing advice in relation to the GM crops. As herbicide use is the key factor in the research, this aspect of the crop management is covered by the following protocol:
	Protocol on herbicide use for the Farm Scale Evaluations
	1. SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) will not offer advice to farmers on management of the non-GM part of experimental fields. This will be carried out by the farmer's own adviser and recorded in detail, as is required under pesticide usage regulations.
	2. SCIMAC will provide advice through an agronomist to farmers about herbicide and related management for the GM herbicide-tolerant crops. The agronomist will make a recommendation about the application rate and timing of the herbicide to provide cost-effective weed control. SCIMAC will provide draft detailed herbicide application information in addition to the label on the herbicide container, and provide the necessary amount of the herbicide to the farmers.
	3. Farmers will provide their rationale for recommended herbicide usage in the non-GM part of each study field. SCIMAC's agronomist will provide their rationale for recommended herbicide usage in the GM part of each study field. Farmers will provide a report of actual herbicide use in both the GM and non-GM parts of each study field. All this information will be submitted to the independent research consortium carrying out the FSE study, thereby allowing a comparison of the agronomist's advice with actual herbicide usage and thus substantiating whether or not cost-effective weed control has been met.
	The independent Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the FSE programme has approved this protocol as being appropriate for cost-effective weed control. The independent team carry out the FSE research audit as to whether cost-effective weed control has been practised by analysing herbicide application records, the weed burden at each trial site and records of crop yield. My Department does not have this management data, but it is planned to make relevant details publicly available at the end of the FSE programme when the research results are published. I can confirm that glufosinate ammonium is the only herbicide being used on the GM maize in the FSE trials.

Sea Wall Defences

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure on sea wall defences in the county of Essex and the unitary boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on- Sea was in each year from 1990 to 2001.

Elliot Morley: Information is readily available only for expenditure incurred by the Environment Agency. The table details capital expenditure by the agency on sea walls in Essex (including Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea) and maintenance expenditure on sea walls and tidal defences:
	
		£ million 
		
			  Capital expenditure Maintenance expenditure Total 
		
		
			 1990–91 3.8 1.6 5.4 
			 1991–92 8.9 2.0 10.9 
			 1992–93 9.4 2.2 11.6 
			 1993–94 9.1 2.2 11.3 
			 1994–95 6.1 2.2 8.3 
			 1995–96 6.3 2.4 8.7 
			 1996–97 4.2 2.4 6.6 
			 1997–98 5.2 2.0 7.2 
			 1998–99 6.9 2.2 9.1 
			 1999–2000 4.8 2.0 6.8 
		
	
	Note:
	Capital expenditure will vary year to year depending upon schemes in progress.

Illegal Wildlife Trade

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what action the Government are taking to tackle global illegal trade in wildlife;
	(2)  what assessment the Government have made of the impact illegal wildlife trade is having on endangered species; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The UK was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The convention is implemented throughout the European Community through EU regulations by means of a system of licensing, to ensure that any trade is carried out at levels which species populations can sustain. Populations of endangered species and levels of trade are under continuous review, and the degree of protection afforded to particular species (which can include a complete ban on all trade) can be changed as a result.
	Specimens of some endangered species command high prices on the illegal market. There is a huge incentive to evade trade controls and examples of illegal imports which have been intercepted by HM Customs and Excise are well-documented. It is difficult to assess the full scale of the illegal wildlife trade and thus the impact on species conservation, but reports published by the CITES Secretariat, Interpol, and by respected scientists and other conservation experts show that these are matters which we must continue to take very seriously indeed.
	The UK has a good record of CITES enforcement. HM Customs and Excise Wildlife and Endangered Species Officers (including the internationally respected CITES Enforcement Team at Heathrow airport) and Police Wildlife Liaison Officers are at the sharp end of wildlife law enforcement and work with great commitment and determination. This has led to a number of successful prosecutions, including one resulting in a custodial sentence of six and a half years for the illegal import of certain birds. The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime—a multi agency organisation comprising the main Government Departments, statutory enforcement agencies and voluntary organisations with an interest in wildlife law enforcement issues—works hard to support the networks of police and customs officers at the strategic level. In addition, our major information campaign "Souvenir Alert" increases awareness of CITES controls among the general public. The campaign is aimed at tourists who may unwittingly bring back from their travels souvenirs made from endangered species. Over the past six months we have distributed a quarter of a million leaflets publicising the campaign, which has attracted considerable media and public interest.
	Our work to combat the illegal wildlife trade took a significant step forward on 22 April, when I announced the establishment of the National Wildlife Criminal Intelligence Unit. The unit, which will be part of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, is well placed to make a real difference in countering organised wildlife crime at a national and international level.
	Wildlife criminals are finding ever more sophisticated ways of avoiding detection. The unit will be using equally sophisticated techniques to track down, prosecute and punish these criminals.

Agriculture (Herefordshire)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes the Budget of 17 April will make to agriculture in Herefordshire.

Elliot Morley: Agriculture in Herefordshire, as elsewhere, is made up of a large number of different types of businesses, many of them small businesses. Depending on their individual circumstances, many may benefit from the budget measures offering help to small firms. The freeze in fuel duty and vehicle excise duty levels will also benefit agricultural businesses, as may the reduction in duty on cider. Many agricultural workers and farming families will benefit from the working tax credit and the child tax credit.

Agriculture Council

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason no devolved Adminstration Minister attended the 2419 European Union Council of Ministers (Agriculture) meeting on 18 March; which suggestions and matters of concern from the Scottish Executive were raised in their absence by the UK Government delegation; and what information and evidence was provided by her Department to enable effective post-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 22 April 2002
	No Ministers from the devolved Administrations attended the March Agriculture Council as there was nothing on the agenda of specific interest to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the UK Government are well briefed on their interests in more general matters. There was no need for the UK Government to raise any issues of particular concern to the Scottish Executive. On the third point, it is the responsibility of the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the Scottish Executive's involvement in preparations for EU Council meetings. These arrangements are a matter for the Committee and the Scottish Executive. The Department provides information to Scottish Executive officials as part of that process.

International Environmental Conventions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which international conventions on the environment (a) her Department and (b) the Government have signed since 1997; what the timetable for implementation is in each case; and what steps her Department is taking to monitor implementation.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 23 April 2002
	Since 1997 the United Kingdom has signed the following international conventions on the environment:
	(i) The Montreal Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Signed: September 1997
	(ii) The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 as Modified by the Protocol of 1978 Relating Thereto—Annexe VI: Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships. Signed: September 1997
	(iii) The Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Signed: April 1998
	(iv) The Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Signed: June 1998
	(v) The Protocol on Heavy Metals to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Signed: June 1998
	(vi) The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. Signed: September 1998
	(vii) The Beijing Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Signed: December 1999
	(viii) The Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Signed: December 1999
	(ix) The Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Signed: May 2000
	(x) The Basel Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage Resulting from Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Signed: December 2000
	(xi) The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Signed: June 2001
	(xii) The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships. Signed: October 2001
	(xiii) The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Signed: December 2001.
	With respect to the timetable for implementation of these conventions, the United Kingdom must have all measures in force to give effect to a convention before ratification. The timetable for ratification will take into account the need for action by the European Union. Where conventions include specific timetables for action the United Kingdom will comply with those provisions. Reporting requirements on implementation are determined by each instrument on a case by case basis.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made since 1997 in cutting UK emissions of carbon dioxide.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 24 April 2002
	The UK Climate Change Programme and Third National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change were published in November 2000 and October 2001 respectively. These set out the policies by which the UK will meet its Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. relative 1990 levels over the period 2008–2012, and move towards our domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide relative to 1990 by 2010.
	Actual emissions in 1997 were estimated to be 152.5 million tonnes of carbon (MtC), or about 7 per cent. below the level in 1990. In 2000 (the most recent year for which final data are available) carbon dioxide had fallen by a further 0.4 MtC, but provisional 2001 data show an increase of 1.9 MtC. This increase reflects higher power station emissions (plus 4.1 MtC relative to 1997), colder outside temperatures (plus 2.1 MtC) and trends elsewhere in the economy (minus 4.2 MtC). The increase in power station emissions is due to gas price fluctuations, and colder outside temperatures increased demand on space heating requirements. We do not expect longer term trends to be affected, particularly since trends elsewhere in the economy are tending to reduce emissions. Our estimated reductions set out in the UK Climate Change Programme and the Third National Communication are therefore unchanged.

Noise

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants are available for noise insulation.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply
	No such grants are available centrally.
	There are statutory requirements for the provision of noise insulation in specified circumstances, in respect of noise from various sources. Under the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 the appropriate highway authority will provide insulation in the form of secondary glazing to the windows and glazed doors, of dwellings and other buildings used for residential purposes, or payment of grants for this purpose, where such properties are not more than 300 m from the nearest point of a new highway, including an additional carriageway added to an existing highway, or an alteration affecting the line or level of an existing highway. The provision of insulation or grant is subject to there being an increase, or expected increase, in noise on the façade of the property attributable to the traffic on the new or altered highway from that prevailing before construction started, provided this is above a prescribed level.
	Under the Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 1996 an authority responsible for constructing a new railway, tramway or other guided transport system, or for adding to an existing system, has a similar duty to provide insulation for dwellings and other buildings used for residential purposes, or to pay grant for that purpose.
	Similar statutory schemes have been made under s79 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, and previous powers, requiring provision of noise insulation in respect of aircraft noise at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. At other airports, noise insulation may be provided on a voluntary basis or in accordance with planning conditions.
	Noise insulation schemes under any of these statutory provisions are subject to qualifying dates: they are not open-ended.
	Local housing authorities could consider whether it would be appropriate to award a discretionary Home Repair Assistance grant to private home owners and tenants for noise insulation. The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002, if enacted, will provide authorities with a new general power which they could also use to this end.

Heathrow (Bird Strikes)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of potential bird strikes at Heathrow airport; and what measures are being taken to deal with this.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Heathrow Airport Ltd. carries out a continuing assessment of the bird strike risk at the airport and takes remedial action as part of its operating licence obligations. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has also established a working group, involving Heathrow Airport Ltd., the Civil Aviation Authority and other interested parties, to look at a broader range of issues connected with the bird strike hazard in the Heathrow area.

Climate Change

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work her Department is doing on the impact of climate change.

Margaret Beckett: The UK Climate Change Programme outlines the Government's approach on adaptation to climate change. An important component of this is the ability to assess possible impacts and adaptation options. To address this, my Department has provided a further three years of funding for the UK Climate Impacts Programme to help the public and private sector carry out studies to assess what climate change may mean for them and how to prepare for it.
	To help such assessments, new climate change scenarios for the UK will be published on 26 April 2002. These contain important information on how the UK's climate may change in future as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. Copies of the scenario reports will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
	In addition, the Government have recently begun an inter-departmental process to consider the implications of climate change. My Department is participating in this activity and has also commissioned a survey of the implications of climate change for its policies and operational responsibilities. The study should be completed this year.

Timber

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning recent shipments of Brazilian mahogany to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Pursuant to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 272W, the final sentence of the second paragraph did not contain the most up-to-date information. Paragraph two should read as follows:
	Greenpeace sought permission to take the Department to Judicial Review in order to compel DEFRA and HM Customs and Excise to seize a recent importation of Brazilian Mahogany. The initial judgment refused Greenpeace's application but they have now successfully appealed against this.
	The rest of the answer remains correct.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Transport and Telecommunications Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 379W, on the Transport and Telecommunications Council, what the status of the general orientations reached by the Council is; and whether issues covered by these general orientations could be reopened by the UK.

Douglas Alexander: A "general orientation", now more often known as a "general approach", is an indication of the formal position the Council might take at a later stage. The term is used when a formal position of the Council cannot be reached because the legislative pre-conditions of the decision-making process have not yet been met, for example because the European Parliament has not yet delivered its opinion.
	There were two general approaches reached at the 25 March Telecommunications Council relating to decisions on electronic interchange of data between administrations (IDA) (Council number 11983–01) and Trans-European Telecommunications Networks (Council number 15324–01). Both proposals had cleared parliamentary scrutiny in advance of the Council, so we signalled that there were no outstanding UK issues to raise for the moment. It does however remain open to use to raise additional issues if the European Parliament proposes significant amendments. We will keep the Committees informed of developments.

Data Protection Registrar

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure that businesses are not misled by companies purporting to be acting on behalf of the Data Protection Registrar.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is cooperating with relevant enforcement authorities over this issue. We advise those who wish to complain about such an approach to contact their local Trading Standards Office. This is in line with advice issued by the Information Commissioner.

Pubs

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she plans to investigate the effects on competition and the potential monopolies created by the growth of pub chains.

Melanie Johnson: In his review of the Beer Orders in 2000, the Director-General of Fair Trading found no evidence to warrant a monopoly reference of the pub chains to the Competition Commission. The Director- General has pledged that he will continue to be vigilant in his pursuit of anti-competitive practices in the industry.

Faulty Products

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Directive 1999/44/EC (Refunds on Faulty Products) will be implemented.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is currently consulting on draft regulations to transpose EC Directive 1999/44/EC (on Certain Aspects of the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees) into UK law. The consultation ends on 23 May 2002 and regulations will be laid before Parliament.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to consult the recruitment industry on the content of the proposed European directive on working conditions for temporary workers.

Alan Johnson: Officials have been discussing the effects of the proposed European directive on working conditions for temporary workers with the recruitment industry, and will continue to do so.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has conducted into the average length of temporary work assignments in the UK.

Alan Johnson: We are aware of existing research on the nature of temporary work. Should further information be needed in light of the Commission's proposals, we will consider the case for further research.

Temporary Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to meet the European Commission to discuss the proposed European directive on working conditions for temporary workers.

Alan Johnson: I have discussed it with Commissioner Diamantopoulou, and others, and expect to have further contacts.

Temporary Workers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to safeguard labour market flexibility, with particular reference to the proposed European directive on working conditions for temporary workers.

Alan Johnson: We are studying the proposal to ensure that it provides adequate protection for agency workers without unnecessarily reducing labour market flexibility.

Temporary Workers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she has asked the European Commission to withdraw the proposed European directive on working conditions for temporary workers.

Alan Johnson: We are studying the proposal to establish whether it protects agency workers without damaging the important contribution agency workers and agencies make to the labour market and to maintaining high levels of employment.

LOTIS Committee

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the LOTIS Committee.

Patricia Hewitt: The LOTIS Committee is part of International Financial Service, London, an independent private sector trade association (formerly known as British Invisibles) representing business interests in the City of London. Government officials are invited to attend the Committee's meetings as observers, as they are with many other trade associations and non- governmental organisations.

Chemical Weapons Act

Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996.

Patricia Hewitt: In accordance with the Act, I have laid a report on its implementation during 2001 before the House.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to reply to the letter dated 4 March from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding Mr. R. Roxburgh.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 17 April 2002
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 16 April 2002.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Public Services (Access)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he collates on the accessibility of residents of wards in England to (a) higher education, (b) further education, (c) general hospitals, (d) specialist hospitals, (e) nearest towns and cities and (f) other services.

Sally Keeble: Information on access to services by residents of wards is not generally collected. The exception is that access to some (f) "other services" (post office, food shops, GP, primary school) has been assembled at ward level as the "Geographic Access to Services" Domain of the Index of Deprivation 2000. My Department is undertaking a major new project this year to develop methods for local authorities to measure accessibility to key services at ward level.

Elected Mayors

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many towns and cities have elected mayors; what the turnout was in each election; and if he will make a statement on the powers of elected mayors.

Alan Whitehead: To date, only London has a directly elected mayor, first elected in May 2000 with a turnout of 34.4 per cent. The mayor has wide powers with regard to setting the strategic direction for London and in particular with regards to transport, economic development and regeneration.
	Referendum results have supported the introduction of directly elected executive mayors in eight English local authorities and on 2 May 2002 there will be a further five mayoral referendums. Of those eight local authorities, seven are holding their first mayoral election on 2 May 2002 and one on 17 October 2002. These executive mayors will lead their councils and, to the extent each local authority's constitution provides, will be in charge of their council's services.

National Insurance Costs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the cost in the next 12 months of the Budget changes to employers' national insurance contributions to (a) his Department, (b) agencies of his Department and (c) local government carrying out functions within the responsibility of his Department.

Alan Whitehead: The changes to both employee and employers' national insurance contributions, announced in the Budget, will come into effect in April 2003. There will be no additional costs in the present financial year.

Devolution

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason no devolved Administration Minister attended the 2420 European Union Council of Ministers (Transport) meeting on 26 March; which suggestions and matters of concern from the Scottish Executive were raised in their absence by the UK Government delegation; and what information and evidence was provided by his Department to enable effective post-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

John Spellar: holding answer 22 April 2002
	The UK, as the member state, is represented by a member of the UK Government. It is not normal practice for a Minister from a devolved Administration to join the delegation, nor were there any from any other EU country on this occasion. The devolved Administrations are involved before Council meetings in developing the UK position, which will as necessary reflect matters of particular concern to one or all of the devolved Administrations.
	I reported on the outcome of the Council to the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee and to the Chairman of the Select Committee on the European Union in the House of Lords. A written report prepared by the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels was given wide distribution among officials.
	Arrangements for post-Council scrutiny in Scotland are a matter for the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive. My Department provides information to Scottish Executive officials as part of that process.

Council Tax

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the levels of Band D council tax were in each local authority in (a) London, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Scotland, in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1997–98, and (iii) will be in 2002–03.

Stephen Byers: Tables giving the equivalent figures for the financial years 1993–94, 1997–98 and 2002–03 are available in "Regional Trends 29", Table 15.2; Department of the Environment Information Bulletin on "Council Taxes in England in 1997–98" (Bulletin 164, 20 March 1997); and the DTLR News Release on "Council Taxes in England—2002/03" (2002–0124, 21 March 2002) respectively. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The tables provide information on the Band D council tax in each local authority area. The figures are based on two adults and include amounts funded by council tax benefit and transitional relief.
	In practice, only a minority of properties in each local authority area are in Band D, with the percentage in Bands A to C varying widely between authorities, from 10.7 per cent. to 96.8 per cent. The average Band D council tax does not therefore allow a comparison to be made of the average amounts of council tax payable by people in different areas.
	In contrast, the average council tax per dwelling reflects the wide variation between authorities in the distribution of properties across bands. It is therefore a helpful measure to use when comparing the amounts payable in different areas.
	Information on Wales and Scotland is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Executive respectively.

Mobile Home Parks

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to publish his report on the economics of running a mobile home park.

Sally Keeble: The researchers' work on the study into the economics of the park homes industry is nearing completion. We anticipate publication of the final report in early summer.

Investment (Islington)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list, by project, the total Government support for regeneration projects in the Borough of Islington (a) for each of the last five years and (b) expected for 2002–03.

Sally Keeble: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Regeneration spending in Islington -- £
		
			 Type 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(1) 
		
		
			 Community Empowerment Fund — — — — 150,261 150,261 
			 Community Chest Fund — — — — 137,956 206,934 
			 Community Learning Chest — — — — — 55,182 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund — — — — 3,136,000 4,703,000 
			 Single Regeneration Budget — — 410,000 11,203,000 13,519,000 — 
			 New Deal for Communities — — 10,000 575,660 483,000 — 
		
	
	(1) Allocations
	Notes:
	1. Grants under Community Empowerment Fund, Community Chest Fund, Community Learning Chest and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund only commenced in 2001.
	2. The London Development Agency is unable to provide a breakdown of SRB expenditure by London borough in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 2002–03.
	3. The allocation for new deal for communities for 2002–03 is not yet decided.

Investment (Islington)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list, by project, the total investment in housing capital improvements in Islington (a) for each of the past five years and (b) expected for 2002–03.

Sally Keeble: Since May 1997, the London borough of Islington has been allocated the following amounts of funding for specific housing capital improvement projects:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Capital Challenge (Marquess Estate)  
			 1997–98 1,500,000 
			 1998–99 4,500,000 
			 1999–2000 3,500,000 
			 Estate Action (Harvist Estate)  
			 1997–98 1,303,000 
			 1998–99 1,693,000 
			 1999–2000 1,119,100 
			 2000–01 777,900 
			 2001–02 500,000 
			   
			 Single Regeneration Budget:  
			 Kings Cross Partnership (housing projects)  
			 1997–98 380,000 
			 1998–99 1,962,000 
			 1999–2000 1,301,000 
			 2000–01 846,000 
			 2001–02 577,000 
			 Finsbury Park (Tollington Estate)  
			 1999–2000 45,000 
			 2000–01 293,000 
			 2001–02 600,000 
			 2002–03 450,000 
		
	
	The following has also been allocated to the borough. However, it is a matter for the local authority to decide how this funding is allocated between their priorities.
	
		£ million 
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Housing Investment Programme 9.255 7.468 9.075 28.415 12.651 14.970 
			 Major Repairs Allowance — — — — 25.434 25.030 
			 Capital Receipts Initiative 2.848 9.168 8.334 — — — 
			 Disabled Facilities Grant 0.136 0.124 0.131 0.142 0.212 0.237 
			 Cash Incentive Scheme 2.240 1.524 — — — —

Fire Service Pensions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the review of fire service pension arrangements to be concluded; when the review commenced; and which Government Departments and agencies are engaged in the review.

Alan Whitehead: In 1998 the Home Office published a consultation document on options for changes to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme. There was no consensus among Fire Service interests on the costs and benefits which might be included in any new pension scheme. We have no immediate plans to introduce a new scheme but continue to discuss amendments to the current scheme with the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils which include representatives of the Scottish Executive, the Northern Ireland Administration, Fire Service employers, unions and staff associations.

Council Tax

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out the distribution of properties, by council tax band, in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne, (b) the London borough of Wandsworth and (c) the London borough of Richmond; and what the average distribution by band is in each Government office region of England.

Alan Whitehead: Information on the number of properties in each council tax band is shown on the valuation list, compiled by the Valuation Office Agency. The latest information available is at 26 March 2002. The number of properties in each council tax band, and the distribution of properties by council tax band, for Newcastle upon Tyne, the London borough of Wandsworth and the London borough of Richmond are shown in the table. The table also gives information for each Government office region of England.
	
		Number and percentage of properties in each council tax band
		
			   Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H Total 
		
		
			 Newcastle upon Tyne  
			 Number 73,125 17,252 16,508 7,249 3,538 1,654 1,291 115 120,732 
			 Percentage 60.6 14.3 13.7 6.0 2.9 1.4 1.1 0.1 100.0 
			   
			 Wandsworth  
			 Number 5,995 11,758 34,363 28,792 17,800 11,845 10,751 1,881 123,185 
			 Percentage 4.9 9.5 27.9 23.4 14.4 9.6 8.7 1.5 100.0 
			   
			 Richmond  
			 Number 596 1,917 11,361 19,250 19,484 11,082 11,692 2,661 78,043 
			 Percentage 0.8 2.5 14.6 24.7 25.0 14.2 15.0 3.4 100.0 
			   
			  Government Office Region 
			 North East  
			 Number 667,963 157,421 157,846 80,695 40,190 17,627 10,298 1,173 1,133,213 
			 Percentage 58.9 13.9 13.9 7.1 3.5 1.6 0.9 0.1 100.0 
			   
			 North West  
			 Number 1,322,421 563,533 514,026 285,914 167,010 82,021 56,127 5,612 2,996,664 
			 Percentage 44.1 18.8 17.2 9.5 5.6 2.7 1.9 0.2 100.0 
			   
			  Yorkshire and the Humber
			 Number 1,007,232 422,759 351,695 187,306 119,051 57,371 33,834 2,943 2,182,191 
			 Percentage 46.2 19.4 16.1 8.6 5.5 2.6 1.6 0.1 100.0 
			   
			 East Midlands  
			 Number 708,205 406,075 320,954 184,684 108,634 52,261 30,941 2,812 1,814,566 
			 Percentage 39.0 22.4 17.7 10.2 6.0 2.9 1.7 0.2 100.0 
			 West Midlands  
			 Number 732,699 559,441 427,208 238,448 149,545 81,514 49,742 5,017 2,243,614 
			 Percentage 32.7 24.9 19 10.6 6.7 3.6 2.2 0.2 100.0 
			   
			 East  
			 Number 338,768 497,471 617,989 402,793 243,008 132,541 90,901 10,783 2,334,254 
			 Percentage 14.5 21.3 26.5 17.3 10.4 5.7 3.9 0.5 100.0 
			   
			 London  
			 Number 109,217 424,581 832,400 794,520 478,877 237,732 195,448 52,909 3,125,684 
			 Percentage 3.5 13.6 26.6 25.4 15.3 7.6 6.3 1.7 100.0 
			   
			 South East  
			 Number 297,106 561,367 883,401 681,627 459,244 276,049 223,648 30,091 3,412,533 
			 Percentage 8.7 16.5 25.9 20 13.5 8.1 6.6 0.9 100.0 
			   
			 South West  
			 Number 378,657 538,373 508,093 343,986 232,043 117,013 69,361 6,596 2,194,122 
			 Percentage 17.3 24.5 23.2 15.7 10.6 5.3 3.2 0.3 100.0 
			   
			 England  
			 Number 5,562,268 4,131,021 4,613,612 3,199,973 1,997,602 1,054,129 760,300 117,936 21,436,841 
			 Percentage 25.9 19.3 21.5 14.9 9.3 4.9 3.5 0.6 100.0 
		
	
	Note:
	Percentage figures are subject to rounding.

School Run

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research he has commissioned into the psychosocial impact on children of parents taking them to school by car.

Stephen Byers: In October 2000 my Department commissioned a scoping study and literature review to establish what was already known about the effect of travel mode on children's mental health and cognitive and social development. The study reported in April 2001. The executive summary is on the DTLR website at www.local-transport.dtlr.gov.uk/schooltravel/cogdev/ index.htm and has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Voluntary Sector

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire of 25 January 2002, Official Report, columns 1183–85W, on Government funding of the voluntary sector, if he will list the grant schemes and other mechanisms by which (a) his Department, (b) the housing action trusts, (c) English Partnerships and (d) the regional development agencies distribute funding to voluntary sector organisations.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 19 April 2002
	The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions does not hold information centrally on the grant schemes and other mechanisms by which it distributes funding to voluntary sector bodies. However, information in respect of the bodies specifically mentioned in the hon. Member's question is as follows:
	(b) Housing Action Trusts give grants to support a wide range of local community groups and projects. Details are published in each Housing Action Trust's annual report and accounts. In 2000–01 the five trusts gave grants totalling approximately £1.1 million to support over 100 local initiatives.
	(c) English Partnerships is not a significant contributor of funds to the voluntary sector.
	(d) Regional development agencies currently provide Single Regeneration Budget funding to various regeneration partnerships who support projects that benefit the voluntary sector. Regional development agencies may also choose to provide support to the voluntary sector through their new single programme that started on 1 April 2002.

Housing (East Lancashire)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what consideration he has given to the proposals submitted to him by local authorities in East Lancashire to tackle the problem of run-down and abandoned housing in the region.

Sally Keeble: The East Lancashire Housing Forum submitted in December 2001 a proposed programme to tackle the problem of low demand and abandoned housing in the area. The Government is considering the proposal in the context of the spending review, along with the proposal from various northern housing bodies for a housing market renewal fund.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 10 April that nine areas where the problems of low demand housing are most acute, of which East Lancashire is one, were being invited to work with Government to establish pathfinder projects to tackle low demand. Their aim will be to provide lasting solutions for communities blighted by derelict homes through investment and innovation. They will do this by developing a strategic approach for regenerating their sub-regional housing markets that will bring together key stakeholders, inform future investment, and test out new and innovative approaches to combating low demand.
	A key element of the pathfinder projects' approach will be a unified agenda. Experience shows that it is not sufficient to tackle the housing problem alone. Local authorities must work closely together with their partners—the police, the health authority, the Regional Development Agency, Housing Corporation and private sector—to rejuvenate our towns and cities.
	Low demand and abandoned housing is a major problem. But it also provides a unique opportunity to restructure and rebuild our cities for the twenty-first century. We must now seize that opportunity. The Government will work with local people to deliver the change necessary and bring hope to those communities.

Blue Badge Scheme

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to extend the blue badge scheme of parking concessions for disabled people to people who are only temporarily disabled.

Sally Keeble: The administration of the Blue Badge Scheme is the responsibility of individual local authorities. When they have received the information they require to process an application they should be expected to do so without delay.
	A comprehensive review of the Blue Badge Scheme is currently being undertaken by my Department, which will look at the administration of the Scheme and will also consider the case for temporary badges. Consultation on a discussion paper, which was issued to the main stakeholders, including disability organisations and local authorities, ended recently. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC- our statutory advisers on the transport and mobility needs of disabled people) are considering responses and are due to report their recommendations to the Secretary of State around the end of this month. In the light of those recommendations we aim to decide on the way forward with the scheme over the summer.

Helicopter Rescue Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the contract for the supply of Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter rescue services at (a) Portland and (b) Lee on Solent will expire; whether the MCA intends to keep the arrangements as they are now; and when the MCA will sign a new contract.

David Jamieson: The current contracts for the supply of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) civilian search and rescue helicopter services at Portland and Lee on Solent both expire on 13 May 2003.
	The agency is considering future contracts and discussions about the detail are continuing.
	Any new contracts should be signed by 12 May 2003 to ensure no break in the provision of the service.

Helicopter Rescue Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has to upgrade facilities at (a) Lee on Solent and (b) Portland for the Maritime Rescue Helicopter Service.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is currently in discussion with relevant organisations regarding improvements at Lee on Solent and Portland but no firm decisions have been made.

Helicopter Rescue Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which locations for helicopter rescue services the Maritime and Coastguard Agency funds; and if he will make a statement about the MCA's future plans for helicopter rescue services.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) funds contracted civilian search and rescue helicopter services at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Lee on Solent and Portland.
	The MCA is currently engaged with the Ministry of Defence about the future provision of UK search and rescue helicopters with a view to harmonising the service in the future.

Rail Freight

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps have been taken by his Department and the SRA to introduce piggyback freight carriers on Britain's railways.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (Ms Walley) on 15 March 2002, Official Report, column 1274W.

Railways

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 959W, on railways, how the figures in the baseline period compared to (a) the previous quarter, (b) the average for the previous year and (c) the average for the previous five years.

David Jamieson: Figures on punctuality are available in "National Rail Trends", copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department's rail performance indicators publication of 18 February contained information on serious Signals Passed at Danger (SPAD) in the first, second and third quarters of 2001–02 plus the rolling annual total at the end of each of these quarters. Information on serious SPADs for earlier periods is provided in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) SPAD reports available on the HSE website.
	Information on average age of rolling stock at the end of the first, second and third quarters of 2001–02 was published in the second rail performance indicators report on 18 March. Average age of rolling stock is a new measure and information for earlier periods is not available.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has received a completed report from Mercer on the proposed future structure of regulation in the rail industry.

David Jamieson: Mercer Management Consulting have been commissioned to carry out a wide-ranging consultation of the rail industry stakeholders to gather views about all aspects of the UK railways. This work is not yet completed.

Railway Stations

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new railway stations have been opened since rail privatisation; how many new stations were planned at the time Railtrack went into administration; whether, in administration, Railtrack is continuing to plan to open those stations; when work will commence on the new station at Corsham; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I understand that 24 new stations have been opened since the privatisation of Railtrack. A number of potential new stations are at various stages of feasibility evaluation and planning. During railway administration, the administrators are keeping the network operational and running Railtrack plc on a "business as usual" basis. This process includes the consideration of potential new stations.
	I also understand that commercial agreements between all the parties involved in the project to build a new station at Corsham are close to being finalised, with a view to securing delivery of the station by May 2003.

Windoff

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on Railtrack and its successor body of the German manufacturer Windoff going into receivership.

Stephen Byers: Such matters are for the company to consider.

Windoff

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from (a) the SRA, (b) Railtrack plc, (c) Newtrack Rail and (d) the Office of the Rail Regulator regarding the potential repercussions resulting from Windoff going into receivership.

Stephen Byers: None.

Multi-Modal Studies

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when each of the modal studies proposed in the 10-year transport plan will be (a) completed and (b) published.

David Jamieson: The multi-modal studies that have been completed and a final report published are as follows.
	
		
			 Multi-modal study and location Reported 
		
		
			 Access to Hastings December 2000 
			 Cambridge to Huntingdon (A14) August 2001 
			 South East Manchester (Stockport, Manchester Airport Link West, Poynton) September 2001 
			 West Midlands area (M5/M6 and M42 between M40 and M6) October 2001 
		
	
	The following table shows expected completion/final report dates of the multi-modal studies that are currently in progress:
	
		
			 Study Date expected to report 
		
		
			 West Midlands to North West (M6) May 2002 
			 London to South West and South Wales (A303, M4) May 2002 
			 A1 (North of Newcastle) May 2002 
			 North/South movements in the East Midlands (M1 Junctions 21 to 30) May 2002 
			 Hull (East/West) corridor (A63 and A1033 to Port of Hull) May 2002 
			 A453 (M1 to J24 (Nottingham) June 2002 
			 South and West Yorkshire motorway box (M1 J30 to A1 West Yorks/M18/M62 and A1(M) June 2002 
			 Tyneside area (A1/A19) June 2002 
			 London to Ipswich (A12) July 2002 
			 South Coast (Southampton to Folkestone coastal corridor)—(M27, A27 & A259) August 2002 
			 M60 Junction 12–18 (West to North Manchester) November 2002 
			 Thames Valley (London to Reading—M4) November 2002 
			 ORBIT—Transport solutions around London (M25) Autumn 2002 
			 London to South Midlands (A1, M1, M11, A5 and A421) December 2002 
			 Norwich to Peterborough (A47) February 2003 
			 West Midlands to East Midlands (A42/M42 to M6 corridor and M69 and A38) April 2003 
		
	
	The final two multi-modal studies have yet to commence. Dates have yet to be confirmed although we would expect these to report by end of 2003/early 2004.
	Multi-modal study and location
	A52 (clifton Bridge to Bingham, Nottinghamshire)
	A34 (North from Southampton).

Multi-Modal Studies

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the titles of the officials from DTLR, the Government Offices for the Regions and the Highways Agency who attended the DTLR multi-modal study infrastructure charging seminar on 1 February;
	(2)  when the summary papers for the DTLR multi- modal study infrastructure charging seminar on 1 February were produced.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 23 April 2002
	The summary papers were produced at the end of January and early February. The titles of those attending are Director, Divisional Manager, Branch Head, Senior Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer, Network Strategy Manager, MMS Project Manager, Assistant Project Manager, MMS Technical Director.

NATS

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made by his Department of the changes which have taken place within National Air Traffic Services since the beginning of the PPP; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My Department, as a major shareholder in NATS, is in regular contact with the company itself and other interested parties regarding the development of NATS since the inception of the PPP. We are confident that the new NATS management will secure the necessary improvements in efficiency and project management.

UK Port Security

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what arrangements have been made for co-ordinating security measures for UK ports with the Royal Navy since 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of security risks regarding maritime container traffic since 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what proportion of UK ports were not in receipt of TRANSEC advice prior to 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent assessment has been made of measures required in respect of protective security for UK ports; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Under paragraph 1 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not the practice to disclose details of security matters.

Roads (Gloucestershire)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what resources he will make available to Gloucestershire county council to upgrade the A436 prior to de-trunking the A40; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The A436 is a local road for which Gloucestershire county council is the local highway authority. The Government have allocated £16,489,000 to the county council to maintain and improve the local transport infrastructure within the county in the 2002–03 financial year. It is for the county council to decide if it wishes to use part of this allocation to fund improvements to the A436.

Road Accidents

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries have resulted from road accidents involving (i) the Fire Service and (ii) police cars; and how much compensation has been paid, in each of the last five years.

Alan Whitehead: Information on deaths, serious injuries and compensation, resulting from road accidents involving the fire service is not held centrally. Chief Fire Officers may be able to provide this information relative to their own brigades
	Information relating to the police is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Road Accidents

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many road accident casualties involving (a) fatal injuries, (b) serious injuries and (c) slight injuries there were in (i) St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the Northwest in each year from 1992 to 2001.

David Jamieson: The number of people killed and injured in road accidents in (i) St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the Northwest are shown in the following table.
	
		Road accident casualties: 1999–2000
		
			 Year of accident Fatal Serious Slight 
		
		
			 St. Helens
			 1992 10 105 943 
			 1993 10 99 961 
			 1994 14 90 1,105 
			 1995 8 89 952 
			 1996 8 102 1,053 
			 1997 6 99 1,107 
			 1998 10 94 1,035 
			 1999 13 98 1,192 
			 2000 14 72 1,099 
			 Merseyside
			 1992 77 993 9,071 
			 1993 71 927 9,439 
			 1994 76 847 9,228 
			 1995 60 763 8,350 
			 1996 66 792 8,793 
			 1997 55 783 9,143 
			 1998 50 713 9,051 
			 1999 55 633 9,271 
			 2000 71 688 9,139 
			 North-West(2)
			 1992 501 4,875 37,602 
			 1993 440 4,753 37,935 
			 1994 426 5,389 39,421 
			 1995 418 5,280 37,922 
			 1996 389 5,110 39,318 
			 1997 376 4,875 41,261 
			 1998 355 4,237 41,223 
			 1999 360 4,045 40,345 
			 2000 370 3,931 40,213 
		
	
	(2) Government Office Region (including Merseyside)
	Note:
	Figures are not yet available for 2001.

Rural Bus Challenge Fund

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will redesignate the Rural Bus Challenge Fund to include (a) taxis and (b) ferries.

Sally Keeble: The guidance issued to local authorities on the Rural Bus Challenge scheme already makes clear that the term "bus" will be broadly interpreted to cover a broad range of road-based public transport. It can include for example projects involving taxi buses or shared taxis and a number of such schemes have been supported with Challenge funding.
	We however have no plans to extend the scheme to include non-road transport.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Further Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she last met the Association of Colleges to discuss further education funding and delivery.

Margaret Hodge: DFES Ministers have met representatives of the Association of Colleges (AoC) on a number of occasions in recent months. The Secretary of State met David Gibson and other representatives from the AoC on 11 February where a wide range of issues relating to FE was discussed. I last met the AoC on 11 April to discuss issues including FE pay and funding.

Further Education

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for increasing funding to further education colleges; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: We are making available over £4.2 billion for further education in 2002–03, a 3 per cent. real terms increase. We are looking to the current spending review to deliver the resources we need to meet the Government's ambitions for further education in 2003–04 and beyond.

Further Education

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action her Department is taking to widen participation in further education in this financial year.

John Healey: Further education plays a key role in driving forward growth in participation and achievement, by providing high quality vocational and academic routes. This year we are investing over £4.2 billion in further education, a 3 per cent. real terms increase on last year and this will enable the Learning and Skills Council to fund a 2.9 per cent. growth in full-time equivalent students in the sector. The Council has recently submitted a report to the Government on its plans for widening participation and we will be working jointly with the LSC to implement this.

Further Education

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what priority she gives to 16 to 18 education in (a) schools and (b) colleges of further education.

Stephen Timms: We assign an equally high priority to education in schools and colleges. My hon. and learned Friend will know that the 14–19 Green Paper sets out our aim that schools and colleges should collaborate to provide all young people with an extended range of opportunities from age 14.

School Funding

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received about Government funding for schools.

Stephen Timms: We have received a number of representations about education funding. We are currently working up a new funding system for introduction in 2003–04. Our aim is not only to make funding fairer, justified by the education needs of children, but to make it clearer as well. In the meantime, we are continuing to make significant increases in education funding overall.

Literacy and Numeracy Skills

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress is being made to reduce the number of adults lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills.

John Healey: This Government recognise the vital importance of improving adult basic skills. Since Skills for Life, our national strategy, was launched last year, we have made significant progress. This includes piloting a number of new initiatives, including one in my hon. Friend's constituency, to determine what works best in helping adults improve their skills. Participation by adults in basic skills courses is increasing and from April to October 2001 over 91,000 adults improved their skills.

Higher Education

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of recent trends in higher education take-up, particularly in areas of low take-up.

Margaret Hodge: The Higher Education Funding Council for England has consulted on its plans to ensure sufficient supply and demand for higher education over the rest of the decade, based on a through analysis of trends over the past 20 years. The latest data from the University and Colleges Admissions Service indicate an increase in applications in 2002 compared with last year, a welcome step towards our 50 per cent. target by 2010.

Higher Education

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she will take to improve full time applications for higher education from mature students since 1996.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 April 2002
	We are determined to widen access as we expand numbers. The latest UCAS figures show a 9.5 per cent. increase in the number of mature students from the UK who entered higher education in September 2001 and UCAS has reported a 4.6 per cent. increase in the number of mature applicants from the UK for September 2002.
	We have put a number of initiatives in place, including foundation degrees which are new vocational qualifications to address the skills gap, as well as New Technology Institutes which are being set up in each English region. They are partnerships between higher education (HE), further education (FE) and business to provide specialist information and communication technology (ICT) and other high technology learning programmes. We are also developing new ways to access higher education through the "e-Universities" project, which will provide the flexibility many mature students need.
	In addition we have provided substantial extra resources for mature students including a child care grant, travel, books and equipment grant and access bursaries for student parents. A single parent with two young children can now get over £16,000 with full student loan and other grants. Our measures have contributed towards the welcome increase in mature student numbers.
	Institutions receive a funding premium for all students aged 25 and over in recognition of the additional cost of supporting such students. We are also encouraging the important role that FE has to play in delivering HE, where FE colleges are already significant providers. They offer degree and other provision to wider groups, many of whom are mature students who may not be able to attend a university but can attend the local college.

Teachers (Early Leavers)

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the recent research she has commissioned into the reasons for teachers leaving the profession.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend has commissioned Professor Alan Smithers and Dr. Pamela Robinson, from the University of Liverpool Centre for Education and Employment Research to undertake research into the factors affecting teachers' decisions to leave the profession. The research commenced in December 2001 and we expect the report to be published in March 2003.

School Spending (Wiltshire)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent per (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil in Wiltshire in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 2001–02.

Stephen Timms: Wiltshire spent £1,690 per primary pupil and £2,260 per secondary pupil in 1997–98. Information for 2001–02 is not yet available.

GCSE Performance Targets

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure all schools in selective education authority areas achieve their GCSE performance targets.

Stephen Timms: We have put in place a support programme targeted at all mainstream secondary schools where fewer than 25 per cent. of pupils gain at least 5 A-C grades at GCSE including: financial support through the school improvement grant; Excellence in Cities or Education Action Zones; Ofsted monitoring visits; advice and guidance on good practice; a pilot project for trainee head teachers and an Action Research Project involving eight schools facing extremely challenging circumstances.

School Grants

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement about the system of distributing grants to schools in 2003–04.

Stephen Timms: We are currently working up proposals for a reformed system of school and LEA funding for introduction in 2003–04. We aim to create a simpler, more transparent and fairer formula that reflects fairly, on the basis of up to date evidence, the needs of authorities in different parts of the country. We expect to consult on proposals for the new system in the summer.

Scientific Research

Tony McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that the results of the research assessment exercise do not lead to a lowering of the resources devoted to scientific research.

Margaret Hodge: The funding distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England using the outcome of the research assessment exercise in science, engineering and medical subjects increased from £583.2 million in 2001–02 to £613.1 million in 2002–03. This funding is passed to higher education institutions as part of a block grant and it is for them to determine their spending priorities.

Teaching Assistants

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with the teachers' unions regarding the role of teaching assistants.

Stephen Timms: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg).

Mentoring

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for extending mentoring in schools.

Ivan Lewis: By the end of this school year some 3,800 Learning Mentors will be working in over 1,000 primary pilot schools and 1,000 secondary schools as part of the Excellence in Cities initiative. An extra £19 million is being made available to existing Excellence in Cities areas to extend their Learning Mentor provision from September; and a further 12 Excellence Clusters will operate from September, serving smaller pockets of deprivation and bringing Learning Mentors to more schools. My Department also funds the National Mentoring Network to promote and develop high quality volunteer mentoring for young people, including support for peer mentoring in 150 secondary schools from October 2002. Together with the Home Office Active Community Unit, we are funding seven Mentor Points—one stop shops for those wishing to become or access a volunteer mentor—three of which focus on provision in schools.

Teacher Recruitment (London)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the support she offers for recruitment of teachers in London, with special reference to allowing for the cost of living.

Stephen Timms: London allowances for teachers increased by 30 per cent. last year, and by a further 3.5 per cent. this April. The allowance for a teacher in inner London is now £3,105. London teachers will also benefit from shortening of the main pay scale from 9 points to 6, which will mean more rapid progression to the threshold. Assimilation to this new scale will mean significant benefits for many teachers from 1 September this year. For example, an inner London teacher now on £25,911 will receive £28,818 on the new scale—a basic pay increase of over 11 per cent., in addition to the 3.5 per cent. received on 1 April this year.
	For post-threshold classroom teachers in inner London, salaries are now at £30,966 before any additions for management responsibilities or recruitment and retention allowances. Schools may pay recruitment and retention allowances of up to £5,262 per annum, both for threshold and main scale teachers.
	It is open to local authorities to help teachers with housing, relocation or travel costs. We are helping with more than £42 million available direct to London schools in 2001–02 and 2002–03 through our Recruitment and Retention Fund. We also expect that more than 1,500 teachers in the London area will have benefited from our new Starter Homes Initiative by 2004. We have also recently funded the establishment of a teacher recruitment and retention Unit within the Government Office for London, which will focus initially on affordable housing for teachers.

Teacher Work Load

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to reduce the amount of centrally produced work load for teachers.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg).

Teacher Work Load

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has had on the reduction of teachers' work loads with teaching unions; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to ease the burden of teachers' work loads.

Stephen Timms: I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg).

Teacher Work Load

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she next expects to meet representatives of teachers' organisations to discuss plans to reduce burdens on teachers; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg).

Teacher Work Load

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to reduce paperwork for teachers.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg).

Vocational Subjects

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for GCSEs in vocational subjects.

Ivan Lewis: Eight new GCSEs in vocational subjects will be introduced in September 2002. Beyond this our proposals for their development are contained in the Green Paper "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards". Our plans for the new qualifications will depend on the findings of the consultation.

School Sports Facilities

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of sports facilities in secondary schools.

John Healey: The Department has not carried out its own assessment of sports facilities in secondary schools, but as part of the data collected from local education authorities' asset management plans, the Department has some information on the suitability of internal PE spaces. It also has some information on external sports areas and school playing fields, which is currently being appraised. Depending on the reliability of the information, we plan to publish analyses later in the year to provide a basis for benchmarking.

Teachers' Pay

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to change the system of performance-related pay for teachers in England and Wales.

Stephen Timms: There are no plans to change the statutory arrangements for awarding performance pay points to teachers set out in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, which applies to England and Wales. However, the funding arrangements for England have recently been modified. The revised arrangements are set out in a statement made on 5 April, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Funding in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly.

Tertiary Education (Eastern Region)

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to increase participation in tertiary education in the eastern region.

Margaret Hodge: We are investing substantially in a wide range of policies to raise participation among 16 to 18-year-olds. The Learning and Skills Council has a statutory duty to promote the participation of individuals in post-16 education and training and have allocated it national budget of £3,932 million for 2002–03 for this.
	We have put in place measures that provide the support and incentives young people need to take up and succeed in learning. The Connexions Service provides impartial information, advice and guidance to young people on the full range of learning options open to them up to 19 and beyond. We are addressing the financial barriers to participation through piloting education maintenance allowances; providing discretionary funding targeted at specific learning needs and the Connexions card, which will offer discounts on transport and learning materials.
	We have also recently published the 14–19 Green Paper: "Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards", which proposes giving young people a range of high quality, general, mixed and vocational options to support our aim to end the culture of leaving education for good at age 16.

Educational Performance

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to raise standards at key stage 3.

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on initiatives to improve educational performance among 11 to 14-years-olds.

Stephen Timms: Our plans to transform secondary education include a major programme to help schools improve the attainment of all 11 to 14-year-olds, as confirmed by the Secretary of State in her recent DEMOS speech. The key stage 3 strategy sets high expectations and challenging targets. It aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom by investing in teachers' professional development. We are supporting expenditure on the strategy of around £500 million from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff were seconded between (a) PWC Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte and Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen and her Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1266W.

Special Educational Needs

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the special schools in each county in England and the numbers of children with special needs attending each school in (a) 2001, (b) 1996 and (c) 1991.

Ivan Lewis: Tables containing the available information have been placed in the Library. These relate to information published in performance tables for 1996 and 2001. Performance tables were not produced in 1991.

Special Educational Needs

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what targets she sets for (a) measuring and (b) improving teaching standards in schools for children with special needs, with particular regard to children with autistic spectrum disorders.
	(2)  what steps she is taking to improve the collation of data in respect of children with autistic spectrum disorders; what she is doing to increase resources for their education; and if she will make a statement.
	(3)  what steps are being taken to improve autism awareness among teachers.

Ivan Lewis: Our target is for all children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive excellent provision which meets their needs. Maintained schools are under a duty to use their best endeavours to make the special educational provision children's learning difficulties call for, including children with autistic spectrum disorders. Teachers have a crucial role in meeting this duty. As part of the continuous improvement we seek in teaching standards, we want to see the support given by teachers to children with special educational needs (SEN), including those with autistic spectrum disorder, brought up to the standards of the best throughout the country and in all schools. Ofsted has a regular cycle of inspection of maintained schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools which cater wholly or mainly for children with SEN, including schools which make provision for children with autistic spectrum disorders. In determining their judgments Ofsted inspectors have to consider the extent to which pupils with SEN are making progress and how well the teaching meets pupils' diverse needs.
	As part of their initial teacher training, all student teachers must show that they understand their responsibilities under the SEN Code of Practice, and know how to seek advice. During induction teachers must demonstrate that they can plan effectively to meet the needs of pupils with SEN. £91 million of supported expenditure is available under the SEN category of the Department's Standards Fund. Training is an important sub-head under this category and training in autism is specifically mentioned in guidance on the SEN category as something which local education authorities (LEAs) may wish to support. Grant support has also been made available to voluntary organisations and higher education training providers to create new training opportunities and, again, autistic spectrum disorders are mentioned in the bidding criteria.
	The forthcoming publication of guidance from the Department's Autism Working Group will further raise teachers' awareness of the disorder. The guidance will emphasise the benefits of staff who come into contact with children with autistic spectrum disorders having an understanding of the condition. The guidance will help schools and LEAs to make best use of the increasing resources available annually for the education of school children when making provision for children with autistic spectrum disorders. Currently more than £23 billion is available for the education of children in school of which over £1 billion is used by LEAs to provide additional support for children with SEN and some £1.9 billion is identified by LEAs as notionally allocated in schools' budgets towards meeting children's SEN. The guidance will emphasise the benefits of LEAs collecting data on the numbers of children with autistic spectrum disorders. The Department is also examining whether data on different types of SEN could be collected, probably from January 2004. At present there are 12 commonly used categories of SEN. These categories include pupils with autistic spectrum disorders and this would be one of the categories we are likely to collect.

Catering Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by her Department in each of the last four years.

Ivan Lewis: My Department's cost for (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services in each of the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 In-house  
			 2000–01 119,541 
			 1999–2000 130,437 
			 1998–99 111,766 
			 1997–98 (3)— 
			   
			 Other catering services  
			 2000–01 535,188 
			 1999–2000 408,026 
			 1998–99 337,961 
			 1997–98 273,291 
		
	
	(3) No figures available

Job Advertisements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the job advertisements placed by her Department in the last 12 months specifying where the advertisements were placed and the cost in each case.

Ivan Lewis: The Department placed approximately 65 job advertisements in a wide variety of national, local and specialist media in the last 12 months. The media used most regularly included the Guardian, the Sunday Times, the Times Educational Supplement, the Evening Standard, The Voice, the Ethnic Media Group of Newspapers and the Pink Paper.
	A more complete answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Modern Languages

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals she has to provide resources to recruit more teachers of modern foreign languages to adult learners.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 April 2002
	We propose to provide additional resources to assist further education colleges and other post-16 learning institutions to recruit and retain teachers in shortage subjects. The resources will cover the introduction of 'Golden Hello' payments and, subject to the passing of legislation by Parliament, help to pay off, over time, the student loans of newly appointed teachers in shortage subjects. We are currently consulting on the list of shortage subjects which includes modern foreign languages.

Engineering Ambassadors Scheme

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the terms of reference are of the engineering ambassadors scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Science and engineering ambassadors will build on, strengthen and expand existing work around the country bringing young people and teachers together with people who use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills in their careers. It aims to show young people the links between what they learn at school and the world of work, and to give them an understanding of science/engineering career opportunities.
	Science and engineering ambassadors (SEAs) has been jointly developed by this Department and DTI colleagues. It was launched jointly by my noble Friends the Minister for Early Years and School Standards and the Minister for Science on 31 January, initially as part of Science Year but is expected to become a permanent activity—a legacy of Science Year. A copy of the SEAs brochure will be placed in the Libraries and more information is available on www.setnet.org.uk.

Trainee Doctors

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she intends to take in co-operation with the Department of Health to rationalise student finance for trainee doctors.

Margaret Hodge: It has been agreed with the Department of Health that, from academic year 2002–03, undergraduate medical and dental students should in year five and any subsequent year of their course become eligible for a means-tested NHS bursary of up to £2,640 a year in London and £2,148 elsewhere and a reduced-rate student loan of up to £2,365 a year in London and £1,915 elsewhere.
	For the first four years of their course, medical and dental students will be entitled to loans from the Student Loans Company like other higher education students and they are assessed for a contribution to tuition fees. However, from year five they will not pay any contribution to tuition fees.
	In addition, they will also continue to receive extra weeks allowances throughout the course to take account of their longer academic year.
	This enhanced package of support recognises that medical and dental training programmes are longer than average; and it should help to guarantee the supply of newly qualified staff.

Tuition Fees

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether figures are available which indicate the number of students who are eligible to pay tuition fees and who do not receive the required contribution from their parents.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 April 2002
	In England and Wales students on undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards their tuition fees only if they can afford to do so.
	In academic year 1999–2000, the latest year for which data are available, the number of higher education students (both dependent and independent) eligible for support was 479,000.
	The only data available on parental contributions to tuition fees come from the Student Income and Expenditure Survey in 1998–99 when only first-year students were liable to pay tuition fees. In that survey four in five students, whose parents had been assessed for a contribution, said that they had received the full amount. However, the survey also showed that the parental contribution to students' maintenance was on average £348 more than the assessed amount.

Graduate Debt

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the average level of graduate debt, broken down by social class.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 April 2002
	The average debt of a borrower with a mortgage-style student loan taken out under the previous Government's student support arrangements starting repayment status in 1999–2000 was £3,210. The amount available to students through student loans has increased under the loan-based support system introduced in August 1998. So the average debt of a borrower with a new income-contingent loan entering repayment status in April 2002 has increased and is estimated to be some £6,100. Repayments of income- contingent loans will be linked to graduates' income after leaving higher education so they repay only when their income exceeds the threshold of £10,000 per annum. Interest on student loans is linked to inflation so that borrowers repay, in real terms, only the amount borrowed. The data are not available by social class.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many contracts her Department has with consultants; what level of professional indemnity insurance is standard in contracts with small consultants; whether she can make exceptions to the level of professional indemnity insurance; and what recent discussions she has had with other Government Departments about the level of professional indemnity insurance.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 April 2002
	The information on the number of contracts my Department has with consultants could only be provided at disproportionate costs.
	With regard to professional indemnity insurance, my Department's model contract for purchases asks for 'unlimited liability'. As developed by HM Treasury my officials are, however, always prepared to negotiate with contractors and agree a limit of professional indemnity appropriate to the level of risk associated with each individual contract.
	It is not the Government's practice to provide details of discussions which form part of the process of policy development and analysis, therefore I am unable to answer your final question.

Specialist Status Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the targets agreed by Sir Thomas Rich's school, Gloucestershire LEA, at the time of its acquisition of specialist status, identifying those not yet achieved.

Stephen Timms: Sir Thomas Rich's school has been operating as a language college since September 2000. The information requested is being collated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving a full reply to the question raised.

Specialist Status Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the targets agreed by Our Lady's Convent high school, London borough of Hackney LEA, at the time of its acquisition of specialist status, identifying those not achieved.

Stephen Timms: Our Lady's Convent high school has been operating as a language college since September 1999. The information requested is being collated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving a full reply to the question raised.

Specialist Status Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the targets agreed by Bournemouth school, Bournemouth LEA, at the time of its acquisition of specialist status, identifying those which are not yet achieved.

Stephen Timms: Bournemouth school has been operating as a language college since September 2000. The information requested is being collated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving a full reply to the question raised.

Specialist Status Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the targets agreed by Katharine Lady Berkeley's school, Gloucestershire LEA, at the time of its acquisition of specialist status, identifying those not yet achieved.

Stephen Timms: Katharine Lady Berkeley's school has been operating as a language college since September 1996. The information requested is being collated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving a full reply to the question raised.

Specialist Status Schools

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the targets agreed by Pate's Grammar School, Gloucestershire LEA, at the time of its acquisition of specialist status, identifying those not yet achieved.

Stephen Timms: Pate's Grammar School has been operating as a language college since September 2001. The information requested is being collated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving a full reply to the question raised.

Employers' NI Contributions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional costs she estimates Ofsted will incur as a result of the increase in employers' national insurance contributions in 2003–04.

Stephen Timms: This is a matter for HM Chief Inspector of Schools and I have therefore asked Mike Tomlinson to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Teacher Recruitment

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the teachers brought into the profession since 1997 had no teacher training qualifications.

Stephen Timms: 7.2 per cent. of the teachers who joined the teachers pension scheme and taught for the first time in the English maintained schools sector between 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2000 did not have qualified teacher status (QTS) at 31 March 2000. These figures are the most recent available and are provisional.
	Some teachers gain QTS after entering the profession.

IT Skills

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals she has to improve IT skills among mature students.

John Healey: The Department for Education and Skills is committed to enabling people to learn later in life and to widening access to ICT skills. By the end of 2002 there will be over 6,000 UK online centres throughout England with access points in public libraries, colleges, local community centres and elsewhere. Older people are one of the key client groups for this initiative. In addition there are over 1,600 learndirect centres, which along with FE colleges and adult and community learning centres, offer opportunities for older learners to improve their ICT skills.

Sixth Forms and Colleges

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the direct payments made to secondary schools announced in the Budget will be made to sixth form colleges.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in the Budget an additional £85 million investment in 2002–03 in school and college buildings in England. Sixth form colleges will receive a proportionate share.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Road Deaths

Bob Russell: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make it a requirement in court cases involving a road fatality that this fact is made known to the court prior to the sentence being made.

Harriet Harman: Where a person is prosecuted for a road traffic offence, such as causing death by dangerous driving, in which the causing of a death is an essential ingredient of the offence, evidence of the death will always be presented to the court.
	Where a driver is convicted of some other road traffic offence, such as careless driving, where evidence of a death does not need to be proved in order to secure a conviction, the Crown Prosecution Service will, none the less, bring the death to the notice of the court because they will follow the Court of Appeal guidance which requires them to set out all the relevant facts, including the fact that a death occurred, when presenting their case to the court.

Young Offenders

Simon Hughes: To ask the Solicitor-General how many young people under 17 appeared before the courts in relation to more than three different matters in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service does not hold this information centrally. However, what I can say is that in relation to persistent young offenders annual figures for 2001 show that the pledge, to halve the time from arrest to sentence, was met, including the last three consecutive months. In 1997 it took 142 days from arrest to sentence. Overall, over the last 12 months the figures went from 91 days arrest to sentence down to 67 days.

Young Offenders

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the number of young offenders who offended while on bail over the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: My hon. Friend will know that the Home Secretary is working with the police to ensure that young offenders do not commit further offences while on bail. The information that he requests is not available in the form he asks for.

Young Offenders

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Solicitor-General what her policy is on the prosecution of young offenders for car-related crimes.

Harriet Harman: The principal aim of the youth justice system is to prevent offending by children and young people. The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for most youth prosecutions in England and Wales and prosecutes all youth cases according to the aim and principles set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
	A youth will be prosecuted if a Crown Prosecutor is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that the public interest requires a prosecution, irrespective of the type of offence that has been committed. Crown Prosecutors must consider the interests of a child or young person when deciding whether the public interest requires a prosecution but should not avoid prosecuting simply on the basis of the age of the offender. The seriousness and prevalence of the offence and the youth's past behaviour are recognised factors in favour of prosecution.
	Youths who admit an offence and have not previously been convicted of an offence will usually not be prosecuted but will be reprimanded or warned by the police. This system of reprimands and final warnings was introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and is designed to stop offending at an early stage and enables a young person to take part in a rehabilitation programme. The police have issued a matrix of "gravity factors" which is used to assess the appropriate action to be taken with reference to the seriousness of the offence under consideration and the offender's previous record.
	"Car related crime" is a wide term that covers a range of offences of varying seriousness. Therefore, offences of car related crime will be graded at different levels of seriousness within the police guidelines, leading to different decisions concerning the appropriate way to proceed depending on the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances of the youth offender involved.

Rape

Julie Morgan: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to increase the percentage of reported rapes that are referred to the CPS and result in a court appearance.

Harriet Harman: The key to reporting rape is the confidence that the victim has that the criminal justice system will take the allegation seriously. That involves concerted action by the criminal justice system as a whole in the investigation and prosecution of rape. One of the important issues in the appropriate referral of cases by police to the CPS is early legal advice to police preferably before charge.

Incitement to Racial Hatred

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Solicitor-General what criteria the CPS adopts in prosecuting individuals for incitement to racial hatred.

Harriet Harman: Each case which the police send to the Crown Prosecution Service—involving an allegation of incitement to racial hatred—is reviewed by a Crown Prosecutor. All cases are carefully considered to make sure that they meet the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
	There are two stages in the decision to prosecute. The first stage is the evidential test. The Crown Prosecutor must be satisfied that there is enough evidence to provide a "realistic prospect of conviction". He must consider objectively whether the evidence can be used and is reliable. The Crown Prosecutor must also consider what the defence case may be and how it is likely to affect the prosecution case. A "realistic prospect of conviction" means that a jury or bench of magistrates, properly directed in accordance with the law, is more likely than not to convict the defendant of the charge alleged.
	If the case does not pass the evidential test, it must not go ahead, no matter how important or serious it may be. Ordinarily, if the case does pass the evidential test, the Crown Prosecutor must then consider the second stage test to decide if a prosecution is needed in the public interest. In cases of any seriousness, a prosecution will usually take place, unless there are public interest factors tending against prosecution which clearly outweigh those tending in favour. The Crown Prosecution Service will start or continue a prosecution only when the case has passed both tests.
	However, offences brought under Part III of the Public Order Act require the Attorney General's consent to prosecute—so whether or not the public interest requires a prosecution is a matter for the Attorney-General.

DEFENCE

Nuclear Weapons

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the United Kingdom's policy is with regard to the possible use of Britain's nuclear weapons to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction against British territory, armed forces or civilians;
	(2)  whether it is his Department's policy to rule out the use of Britain's nuclear weapons in response to the use of chemical or biological weapons against British forces overseas.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave on 10 April 2001, Official Report, column 30W, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith).

Outreach Programme

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Outreach programme of the Defence Diplomacy Mission since July 1998.

Adam Ingram: The Government are committed to strengthening stability and security in central and eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia by offering assistance with defence and security sector reform. The Outreach programme was launched by the Ministry of Defence in the early 1990s to engage the 27 countries of the former Warsaw pact, the former Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia in defence cooperation relationships. Centred in the Defence Diplomacy Mission, the Outreach programme seeks to assist in the development of stable, sovereign and democratic states throughout the region through its programmes of bilateral defence cooperation.
	At the highest level, a principal measure of the success of the Outreach programme is the accession to NATO of countries it supports. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland secured membership of NATO in 1999; and a further nine countries—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania, Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania—are candidates for NATO membership this year.
	More generally, across the region Outreach has been successful in:
	Developing a major programme of English language training (ELT);
	Seconding civilian and military special defence advisers to assist directly with the defence reform process in host nation Ministries of Defence;
	Establishing a British Military Assistance Training Team (BMATT), based in the Czech Republic but providing training for the countries in the region;
	Providing individual and collective military training both in-country and in the UK;
	Providing resettlement training in Russia for over 13,000 retiring and redundant Russian military officers at seven centres around Russia;
	Contributing positively to multinational initiatives, such as the Baltic Defence College, the Baltic Battalion and the Baltic (Naval) squadron;
	The development of robust and valued bilateral relationships with countries across the region.

Outreach Programme

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been enrolled in the Defence Diplomacy Scholarship at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in each year since 1998; how many have graduated from the scholarship in each year since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Diplomacy Scholarship Scheme was one of the initiatives announced in the Strategic Defence Review. The scheme provides an opportunity for foreign military officers and Government officials to study for an Msc in Global Security or undertake the Managing Defence in a Democratic Market Based Society short course, at Cranfield University at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham.
	Since the inception of the scheme in July 1999 the number of students that have enrolled and graduated on each course under the scheme are:
	Msc in Global Security
	Academic year 1999–2000—10 students
	Academic year 2000–01—12 students
	Academic year 2001–02—11 students (course finishes August 2002)
	Managing Defence in a Democratic Market Based Society short course
	7 February to 24 March 2000—30 students
	12 March to 27 April 2001—26 students
	4 June to 19 July 2001—26 students
	24 September to 9 November 2001—23 students
	11 March to 26 April 2002—20 students.

Outreach Programme

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many short-term training teams were sent out under his Department's Outreach programme in each year since 1995, stating in each case (a) the destination, (b) the number of personnel involved, (c) the purpose of the mission, (d) the cost of the mission and (e) the duration of the mission; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many attachments were made under his Department's Outreach programme in each year since 1995, stating in each case (a) the destination of the attachment, (b) the number of personnel involved, (c) the purpose of the attachment, (d) the cost to his Department and (e) the duration of the attachment; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many training courses have been set up under his Department's Outreach programme in each year since 1995, stating in each case (a) where the training course was set up, (b) the number of personnel involved, (c) the purpose of the training course, (d) the cost to his Department and (e) the duration of the course; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As part of the Defence diplomacy mission, the Outreach programme of bilateral defence co-operation in Central and Eastern Europe contributes to international stability by assisting countries in the region to establish democratically accountable, cost effective armed forces capable of contributing both to national and regional security and, increasingly, to international security through participation in peace support operations. Training courses, attachments and short-term training teams are core components of the Outreach programme, and the full details requested by the hon. Member will take time to assemble. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Specialist Support

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the instances since July 1998 where his Department or the armed forces have been required to offer specialist support to the civil authorities stating in each case the number of personnel involved and the duration of the mission; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces provide military assistance to the civil authorities (MACA) on a daily basis. The assistance includes, for instance, search and rescue, and support to the police in the identification and disposal of explosive devices. The assistance provided to the Police Service of Northern Ireland also falls under the general heading of MACA. The total number of individual tasks undertaken since July 1998 runs into the thousands. Detailed records of many of these activities are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There have, however, been a number of large-scale and high profile emergency tasks, details of which are in the table.
	
		
			  Regular forces  
			 Operation and duration Army RN(4) RAF TA 
		
		
			 Fuel dispute 600 15 66 0 
			 September 2000 
			 Fuel 1,301 162 537 0 
			 On standby November 2000 
			 Floods (5)1,100 15 218 154 
			 October-November 2000 
			 Foot and Mouth(6) 1,907 178 91 (7)266 
			 March-October 2001 
			 Merseyside Fire Strike 151 191 191 0 
			 July 2001 
		
	
	(4) Including RM
	(5) About
	(6) This serial records the maximum number of regulars deployed on a single day during the foot and mouth crisis and the total number of TA soldiers deployed throughout the crisis.
	(7) It is possible that the figure may count some individuals involved more than once in support of MAFF/DEFRA, as two individuals.

Support and Humanitarian Operations

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of UK front-line capability was available to the United Nations for peace support and humanitarian operations in (a) July 1998 and (b) April 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom does not earmark specific forces for peacekeeping operations, but under the UN's standby arrangements system, designed to facilitate the rapid deployment of forces once political decisions have been made, we have declared a range of forces with information on capabilities and readiness. We announced, as part of the Strategic Defence Review, our intention to declare the full range of our rapidly deployable forces, additional strategic lift and logistics capabilities as potentially available to the UN. This new declaration was incorporated into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which the Government signed with the UN in June 1999.
	The MOU makes it clear that we would be prepared to consider the provision of forces up to a full brigade size to meet the specific needs of a UN operation. It is not possible to say precisely which of the forces listed in the MOU are available at any one time. The exact availability of the forces for peacekeeping depends on a range of factors, not least other continuing and known future commitments. The decision to commit United Kingdom forces to any UN operation will continue to be a national one.

Unexploded Ordnance (Kenya)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to ensure that unexploded ordnance is removed from the sites of Army training exercises in Kenya once the exercises are completed.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 18 July 2001, Official Report, columns 400–02.

Afghanistan

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the exchange of fire between ISAF forces and members of the Afghan police force which took place on the night of 12 April.

Geoff Hoon: On the night of 12 April, two observation posts in west Kabul manned by solders from 1 Royal Anglian Regiment came under fire from 30–40 men. During the subsequent exchange of fire, most of these men fled on foot; seven were detained and disarmed. Five of these were dressed in police uniforms, one in combat fatigues and one in civilian clothing. All were handed over to the Afghan Interim Administration in accordance with the Military Technical Agreement.
	Despite this incident, there has been a significant improvement in the security and stability of Kabul under the Interim Administration. The ISAF has played a crucial role in this process.

Defence Medical Services

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the medical manning and retention review examining the Defence Medical Services to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The medical manning and retention review is due to be completed in time to inform the Ministry of Defence paper of evidence to the Armed Force Pay Review Body for the 2003 pay round. The overall aim of the review is to propose effective policies for medical and dental officers, covering both remuneration and other issues, that will help to achieve a satisfactory manning balance, and, thus, delivery of the required Defence medical outputs.

Service Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force are claiming (i) working families tax credit and (ii) children's tax credit; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Statistics regarding the number of service personnel currently claiming children's tax credit are not held as applications are made by the individual direct to the Inland Revenue. The number of service personnel currently claiming working families tax credit is as follows:
	
		
			  Working families tax credit(8) 
		
		
			 Army 1,718 
			 Royal Navy 73 
			 Royal Air Force 345 
		
	
	(8) An employer will usually be expected to take responsibility for paying tax credits 14 days after a notification is sent by the Inland Revenue (IR) for weekly paid employees, and 42 days after notification is sent in all other cases. The IR pays tax credits up to the point at which the employer takes responsibility. Consequently, the statistics provided will not include those personnel in receipt of working families tax credit direct from the IR.

Service Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel with children in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force are earning under £92.90 per week; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: No armed forces personnel, irrespective of their married or parental status, receive as little as £92.90 per week (or £4,830.80 per annum). The minimum rate of pay recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) in their 2002 report, accepted by the Government, was £8,997 per annum for Army new entrants under 17. The minimum rate of pay for all adult service personnel recommended by the AFPRB was £10,778 per annum.

Information Warfare

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department has made since July 1998 to the development of national security policies and technical measures to protect against potential vulnerabilities arising from information warfare; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence participates in all relevant Government activities relating to the protection of information systems from electronic attack, including contributing to the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC).
	It is longstanding Government policy not to make detailed comment on the protection measures applied to communications and information systems, or on techniques such as computer hacking, as these could assist potential enemies to penetrate these elements of national security. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Arms Sales

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value of (a) arms sales and (b) arms-related sales from the UK to Africa has been in each of the last five years.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		£ million 
		
			  North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Total Africa Total UK defence exports 
		
		
			 1996 (9)— 35 (9)— 6,177 
			 1997 1.8 3 4.8 6,684 
			 1998 1 10 11 6,030 
			 1999 2.6 5 7.6 4,250 
			 2000 7.9 6 13.9 4,406 
		
	
	(9) It was not possible to breakdown figures for North Africa from the 1996 total.
	These figures are derived from table 1.13 (Exports of Defence equipment: deliveries and identified orders) of the Ministry of Defence publication "UK Defence Statistics 2001", a copy of which is available from the Library of the House. Figures for the year 2001 are not yet available.

Army Attributable Pensions

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the mistaken taxation of Army attributable pensions.

Lewis Moonie: Since my statement to the House on 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 891–902, the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency has been conducting a review to establish more clearly the exact extent of the problem with the mistaken taxation of service invaliding and attributable pensions. This work is not complete, but has revealed that some Royal Navy invaliding and attributable pensions awarded between 1973 and 1999 have also been mistakenly taxed. We will be reviewing all the case files of those who might have been affected and arranging for refunds to be made as appropriate. This will be done as quickly as possible but is expected to take some months given the need to review several thousand pension files. We will also be providing appropriate national publicity to allow those who think they might have a claim to apply for a tax refund.
	Our research has not so far revealed any cases where Royal Air Force pensions were wrongly taxed and there is evidence that the RAF has had in place checks which would have uncovered cases where attributable pensions should have been exempt from tax. However, we will include the RAF in our continuing work to ensure that no error is left unidentified.
	Our further work to date has confirmed that the problem was more extensive than originally understood but has also shown the complexity of the issues involved as, over time, changes have been made to the organisations responsible for administering the pensions and to the rules governing the schemes. We have therefore concluded that we should set up an internal review, completely independent of the staffs involved, to establish the precise extent of the current problems and to expose any other problems that may exist. This independent review will look across all three services, be launched as soon as possible and is likely to take a number of months to complete. The review team will be headed up by a senior civil servant and consist of staff drawn from the Defence Internal Audit. In order to provide external confidence, the NAO will be invited to validate the procedures. I will report the findings to the House.

Defence Procurement Agency

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2002–03.

Lewis Moonie: Five key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2002–03.
	The first three key targets apply to projects covered by the Major Projects Report which have passed their Main Gate approval. Key targets 2 and 3 are consistent with goals set in the Department's public service agreement (PSA), adapted to cover cumulative performance. The fourth key target relates to improvements in DPA customer satisfaction and the fifth to the costs of running the agency. The key targets are:
	Key Target 1: Key requirements compliance
	Predicted achievement of customers' core requirements for projects 1 : 97 per cent.
	Key Target 2: Average cumulative in-service slippage
	Average cumulative slippage of in-service dates 2 at 31 March 2003 not to exceed 12.1 months.
	Key Target 3: Average cumulative cost growth
	Average cumulative cost variation 3 at 31 March 2003 not to exceed 2.2 per cent.
	Key Target 4: Customer survey satisfaction rating
	Customer satisfaction rating 70 per cent. 4
	Key Target 5: Agency running costs
	No excess against DPA resource control totals.
	1 Up to 10 core requirements per project are agreed between the DPA and Ministry of Defence headquarters, defining the essential characteristics of the equipment.
	2 Variation between in-service date (ISD) approved at "Main Gate" (the major investment decision point) and currently predicted ISD. Cumulative target of 12.1 months includes 11.7 months average slippage already incurred on the relevant project population. The in-year target is for no more than 0.4 months average new slippage.
	3 Variation between cost approved at Main Gate and current estimate. The average cost growth already incurred on the relevant project population amounts to 2.2 per cent.: the in-year target is, therefore, for 0 per cent. average cost growth.
	4 Aim is to secure 80 per cent. satisfaction rating by 2005–06 which would place the DPA among best performers for analogous organisations; 70 per cent. would be an incremental improvement on last year's rating of 67 per cent.

Overseas Territories

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the garrisons or other forms of military presence that his Department provided in Britain's overseas territories at (a) July 1998 and (b) April 2002, stating in each case the territory and the number of armed forces personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We maintain Overseas Commands in Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, and the UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus, a naval party in the British Indian Ocean Territory and an RAF station on Ascension Island. Until March 2001 we maintained a small military detachment on South Georgia. Small numbers of service personnel are occasionally stationed in other overseas territories. Full details are as follows:
	
		
			 Territory July 1998 April 2002 
		
		
			 Ascension Island 23 25 
			 Bermuda 1 2 
			 British Antarctic Territory 3 3 
			 British Indian Ocean Territory 40 40 
			 Falkland Islands(10) (11)1,500 (11)1,300 
			 Gibraltar(12) (11)800 (11)755 
			 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands 15 0 
			 Sovereign Base Areas Cyprus (11)3,260 (11)3,230 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 4 0 
		
	
	(10) Figures for the Falkland Islands exclude the Falklands Guardship.
	(11) Approximate figure
	(12) Figures for Gibraltar include the Territorial Army element of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

PRIVY COUNCIL

IT Equipment

Norman Lamb: To ask the President of the Council how many Hewlett Packard Office Jet G85 printer/fax/ scanner/copiers have been supplied to parliamentary offices; what the total value of the contract is between the Government and Computacenter for the supply of Hewlett Packard Office Jet G85 printer/fax/scanner/copiers; how many replacement Hewlett Packard G85 printer/fax/ scanner/copiers have been supplied to parliamentary offices following technical faults; and how much money has been spent (a) carrying out repairs to and (b) replacing faulty Hewlett Packard Office Jet G85 printer/fax/scanner/ copiers which have been supplied to parliamentary offices.

Robin Cook: I understand that the Parliamentary Communications Directorate has supplied 613 G85 printers to Members since central provision of IT equipment began in July 2001. The cost to the House is commercially confidential. Because the figure paid is inclusive of installation and maintenance, repairs and replacements for these machines are not costed separately.
	If a problem arises with these machines, our maintenance contractors will replace them on site rather than attempt a repair. A total of 109 replacements have been provided for 73 Members. It is likely that these 109 include some machines in which no fault was found.

PRIME MINISTER

Czech Republic

Jim Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister whether his discussions with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic included discussions of (a) the sale of Gripen jets to the Czech Air Force and (b) the offset arrangements that formed part of the bid of Gripen International.

Tony Blair: Yes, as my official spokesman has already made clear, I did make representations regarding the Czech decision to buy supersonic aircraft. As with previous Administrations, backing British business abroad is an important part of my job.
	As had also been made clear, I visited Prague primarily to discuss issues such as EU enlargement and to continue our efforts to develop good relations with an important NATO ally.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

National Stadium

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what conditions were attached to Sport England's grant to the national stadium project; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The lottery funding agreement between Sport England and Wembley National Stadium Ltd. (WNSL) and the Football Association sets out a number of conditions related to the development of Wembley as the site of the English National Stadium. WNSL is required to develop a national stadium for three sports: football, rugby league and athletics at Wembley. The lottery funding agreement also sets out a number of mandatory technical and operational requirements. The key requirements are:
	(i) the stadium must have the capability to meet IAAF, FIFA, UEFA, and Rugby Football League requirements; this includes obligations related to stadium capacity, design quality, playing surfaces, facilities for participants, spectators and the media;
	(ii) the stadium must have a minimum seating capacity of 80,000 seats for football and rugby league 75,000 of which must be made available at prices affordable to the general public, and 65,000 seats for athletics;
	(iii) the stadium must be made available for World Athletics Championships and Olympic games events on a cost only basis;
	(iv) the name of the national stadium will be the English National Stadium and any change, for example to facilitate the sale of television naming rights, requires prior written approval of Sport England;
	(v) the stadium may not, except with the prior written consent of Sport England, have an anchor tenant.
	WNSL are also required under the terms of the lease agreements with the English National Stadium Trust to assign 1 per cent. of turnover to the trust five years after opening, for distribution by the trust to community-based sports projects.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Policies (Bristol, East)

Jean Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions (a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998.

Nick Brown: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security and parts of the Department for Education and Employment. We are currently undertaking a fundamental overhaul of the welfare system, transforming it from a passive organisation paying out benefits to an active system that fights poverty, creates opportunity and helps people become self-sufficient and independent. This is making a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:
	eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;
	promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and
	combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and future pensioners.
	Child benefit is now worth £15.75 a week for the eldest child and £10.55 a week for other children: nationally about 7 million families receive child benefit, and in Bristol, East 11,455 families benefit.
	The number of people in work is at historically high levels of over 28.2 million. Nearly three quarters of working age people are in employment and in Bristol, East the proportion in employment currently stands at 76.3 per cent. Unemployment is at levels last seen in the early 1970s. Our New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, disabled people, the over-50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. Nationally well over 600,000 people have been helped into work by the New Deals and in Bristol, East over 1,300 have been helped into work.
	Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. This winter (2001–02) we have made available a winter fuel payment of £200 for each eligible household to help with their heaviest fuel bill. We estimate that around 16,600 older people in Bristol, East will have received a payment this winter.
	We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country. Our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners.
	From this April we will be spending an extra £6 billion a year in real terms on pensioners as a result of our policies. This includes £2.5 billion more on the poorest third of pensioners.
	3,000 pensioner families in Bristol, East are receiving the minimum income guarantee which helps our poorest pensioners. Some 15,300 pensioners in Bristol, East will benefit from this year's increases in the basic state pension of £3 a week for single pensioners and £4.80 for couples. Those over 75, of whom we estimate there are about 7,300 in Bristol, East, may qualify for free TV licences.
	Other reforms include the new pension credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings and the introduction of the state second pension from this April. Both of these initiatives will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners. We have also announced that from October 2003 benefits currently reduced after a hospital stay of 6 weeks will not be reduced until 13 weeks. This will benefit both pensioners and people of working age.

Pensioners

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioner units have savings below (a) £6,000, (b) £8,000, (c) £10,000, (d) £16,000 and (e) £20,000.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table.
	
		Pension units in Great Britain with savings below certain limits
		
			   Pensioner units with savings below limit  
			 Limit Number Percentage 
		
		
			 £6,000 4,100,000 60 
			 £8,000 4,400,000 64 
			 £10,000 4,600,000 68 
			 £16,000 5,200,000 76 
			 £20,000 5,400,000 79 
			 All pensioner units 6,800,000 100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). 2000–01 is the latest year for which data are available.
	2. A pensioner unit is a single person or couple living as married and any dependent children where the head of the benefit unit is over state pension age.
	3. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response and using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for tenure, council tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.
	4. Questions on assets are a sensitive part of the FRS questionnaire and have relatively low level of response. Evidence suggests some under reporting of capital by respondents.
	5. The numbers are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million.
	Source:
	Figures are from the Family Resources Survey 2000–01.

Incomes

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total share of national income received by the poorest 10 per cent. of the population was in (a) 1997, (b) 1999 and (c) 2001;
	(2)  what percentage of people living below (a) 50 per cent., (b) 60 per cent. and (c) 70 per cent. of median income are in receipt of a means-tested benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: Such information as is available can be found in the publication "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 1999–2000", a copy of which can be found in the Library.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down the sentences received by those convicted of benefit fraud as a result of investigations carried out by the Benefits Agency in each year since 1997 by type; and in the case of sentences of imprisonment how many were sentences of (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months and (c) more than 12 months.

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not collated centrally on the terms of imprisonment. For information on the type of sentences, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 540W.

Ministerial Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last four years.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on how the operation to clear Afghanistan of unexploded ordnance is being funded.

Clare Short: The United Nations Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA) is leading on humanitarian mine action and unexploded ordnance (UXO) interventions in Afghanistan. The current humanitarian situation and the challenges ahead, including for mine and UXO action, are set out in the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People (ITAP), prepared by the UN and agreed with the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) for the period to the end of December 2002. So far 53 per cent. of the £33 million requirements for mine/UXO action in the ITAP have been met by the international community.
	In response to the ITAP, DFID has to date allocated £3 million through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) for the MAPA programme in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what education on the dangers of unexploded ordnance is being provided to people living in areas of Afghanistan which are affected by the problem.

Clare Short: In March this year the Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan initiated mine awareness coordination meetings and workshops to ensure that mine awareness operations are fully integrated into the humanitarian response throughout the country.
	The Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan is producing mine risk education (MRE) training, which covers UXO, to brief national education focal points including Ministry of Education officials, heads of schools and provincial education representatives to prepare for the integration of MRE in regular school curriculum. All returning refugees from Pakistan and Iran will receive MRA training.
	According to UNMAS, all mine risk education messages have been updated to include the threat of new unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Afghanistan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of civilian victims of unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan since 11 September 2001.

Clare Short: We have requested this information from the International Committee of the Red Cross. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with details once this information has been received.

Afghanistan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made in clearing unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: The United Nations Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA) is currently completing a period of retraining and is resuming operations wherever possible. In most regions mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance operations have returned to their pre-September 2001 capacity. In addition, the process of expanding capacity to address the UXO threat is under way. The UN priorities for 2002 are the execution of emergency operations throughout the country and a subsequent return to 100 per cent. operational capacity, and to continue to expand mine clearance capacity as resources become available.

Afghanistan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the accuracy of the information on the geographical locations of unexploded ordnance being provided to clearance experts in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: The United Nations Mine Action (UNMAS) has been notified by coalition forces of 188 sites where cluster bombs were used. UNMAS is currently undertaking a programme of visits to high priority areas to determine the accuracy of information being provided.

Sudan

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the decision to put the Higher Educational Links Scheme in Sudan out to international tender.

Clare Short: No such decision has been made.
	The Higher Education Links Programme aims to enhance the capacity of higher education in developing countries to contribute to the promotion of sustainable development. This is done through promoting collaboration between UK universities and similar institutions in developing countries. Sudan is one of 47 countries in which the programme currently operates.
	DFID has recently agreed to extend the current Links Programme for a further year (up to 31 March 2003). We will shortly be developing proposals for a new long-term programme to operate from April 2003. This will reflect the evaluation of the current programme, our strategy for meeting the demand for knowledge and skills, and our policy on untying. We will be consulting the British Council, which manages the current programme, about these plans.

Emergency Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the additional £120 million allocated for emergency aid in 2001–02 has been spent.

Clare Short: Following the events of 11 September, additional commitments totalling £120 million, including our share of additional EC spending, were made to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The funds were allocated to emergency aid, budgetary support and debt relief. They were financed from additional allocations from the Treasury Central Reserve, DFID's Contingency Reserve and other resources. Figures for spending will become available with the finalisation of DFID's accounts later this year.

Foreign Infrastructure Programmes

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what foreign infrastructure programmes the Department is involved in.

Clare Short: We are increasingly allocating our funds to multi-donor or multilateral programmes in order to both minimise the transaction cost and use our inputs to help guide the allocation of funds of other donors.
	In addition, much of our programme is now channelled through the central budgets of the recipient developing countries we are assisting.
	In both these instances, where our money is mixed with that of others in order to achieve broad development objectives, rather than for individual projects, we are unable to give specific details of the infrastructure projects in which we are involved.
	We are however, in many of our recipient countries, still providing funds in direct support of specific infrastructure projects and programmes. Table 1 shows these projects, by number and value in each sector.
	
		Table 1: Infrastructure projects by sector, number and value -- (£ million)
		
			 Sector Number Value  
		
		
			 Air Transport 7 2.5 
			 Energy 10 14.8 
			 Misc. Transport 4 14.1 
			 Roads 15 125.1 
			 Communications 3 0.9 
			 Water and Sanitation 46 82.9 
		
	
	Note:
	Table details operational and planned projects over the value of £100,000 that commenced in or after 1998.

National Insurance Costs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the cost in the next 12 months of the budget changes to employers' national insurance contributions to (a) her Department, (b) agencies of her Department and (c) charities in the overseas development sector.

Clare Short: I do not foresee any significant costs arising in the next 12 months—the Budget changes to employers' national insurance contributions take effect in April 2003.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Race Equality Scheme

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the Home Office Race Equality Scheme.

Angela Eagle: I am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that the Home Office has today published its Race Equality Scheme, setting out how the Home Office intends to promote race equality in accordance with its responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The Scheme is made up of an overarching scheme which describes the high level principles which apply across the Home Office, together with associate schemes for the core (non-IND) Home Office; the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND); the National Probation Directorate; the Forensic Science Service; the Passport and Records Agency and the Prison Service.
	Copies of the complete Home Office Scheme are available in the Library and on the Home Office website, www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Probation Service

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of whether the PSA target to increase the efficiency of the Probation Service will be met by March.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 April 2002
	Overall, the budgets of assumed probation boards, in line with the public service agreement, that efficiency savings to the value of three per cent. would be achieved. The total amount distributed to boards was based on the national forecast of workload. Providing actual workload is in line with this forecast, the target will be achieved.
	In addition, the 42 local probation boards have been asked to report to the National Probation Directorate on the achievement of their efficiency savings. This information is currently being collated. The boards will also be required to report on the achievement of their efficiency savings for 2001–02 in their annual reports. A summary will also be included in the annual report and accounts of the National Probation Service.
	Work has now been commissioned on developing the new comprehensive model for measuring efficiency savings taking into account the considerable changes that are being made to the arrangements for dealing with offenders, such as the introduction of accredited programmes. The provisional completion date for this work is June 2002.

Wrongly Convicted Prisoners

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he established a working group on the aftercare of wrongly convicted prisoners; what its terms of reference are; what appointments have been made to the working group; what its target date is to report; and by what means interested parties may make submissions.

Beverley Hughes: The working group was established and first met in July 2000. The group is made up of Home Office officials and representatives of the National Association for the Care and Re-settlement of Offenders (NACRO) and the Society of Voluntary Associates (SOVA), two national voluntary sector organisations with considerable interest and experience in criminal justice and resettlement issues. The group's terms of reference are to consider and report to Ministers on what assistance might be given on release to ex-prisoners who successfully appeal against conviction and how that assistance might best be delivered within the available budget. No target date was set for the report but the working group is due to report to Ministers shortly. The group commissioned an independent scoping study to inform its work, which identified and canvassed views from a number of interested parties. After consideration of the scoping study the working group decided that a pilot project was appropriate. As there is no procurement exercise or competition for service delivery during the pilot phase, expressions of interest have not been invited. However, it has always been open to those who wish to contribute views to send them direct to the Home Office.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total savings to public funds of the Private Finance Initiative contract for Hassockfield (Medomsley) Secure Training Centre by comparison with a non-Private Finance Initiative alternative.

Beverley Hughes: The estimated total savings to public funds of the Private Finance Initiative contract for Hassockfield (Medomsley) Secure Training Centre by comparison with a public sector alternative is £29.5 million (excluding VAT).

Prisons

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners have been diagnosed as having a learning difficulty (a) while in prison and (b) prior to sentencing in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what educational facilities are provided in each HM Prison in the UK to (a) diagnose and (b) treat prisoners who suffer from specific (i) psychological and (ii) educational disabilities, with particular reference to dyslexia and autism.

Beverley Hughes: Prisons will form part of a pilot being developed by the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit, which will introduce a greater diagnostic element in the assessment of a prisoner's learning difficulties and disabilities. We know that many offenders have learning difficulties and/or disabilities and we are working with prisons, including young offender institutions, to develop a national policy to support their needs. A working party has been set up to develop an action plan and representatives of the National Autistic Society, the British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Institute have been invited to join the working party. No reliable information is available on the total number of prisoners diagnosed with learning difficulties but new procedures are being developed to capture this kind of information.

Prisons

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has commissioned into the work of prison visitors and voluntary associates.

Beverley Hughes: A survey into the nature and extent of the involvement of voluntary sector organisations and volunteers in prison, including prison visitors, was conducted in September 2000. The report will be published shortly.

Prisons

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by prisoners on (a) staff, (b) prisoners and (c) other people took place in prisons and resulted in a positive disciplinary adjudication in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) the period since 1 April 2001; how many prisoners and what percentage of the average prison population during each relevant period this represented; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 15 April 2002
	The number and rate of positive assaults adjudications for the years in question are given in the table.
	
		
			  1996–97 2000–01 2001–02(13) 
		
		
			 Assaults on prisoners 2,747 3,282 3,552 
			 Rate of assaults on prisoners (percentage) 4.8 5.1 5.3 
			 Assaults on staff/others 2,531 3,107 3,159 
			 Rate of assaults on staff/others (percentage) 4.5 4.8 4.7 
		
	
	(13) Annualised
	Figures for 2001–02 are annualised based on positive adjudications to the end of February 2002 and are provisional. The Prison Service does not collect data separately to distinguish between the number of assaults on staff and others, nor the number of individual prisoners charged.
	The number of proven adjudications of assault expressed as a proportion of the average prisoner population is a key performance indicator (KPI) for the Prison Service.While the number of assault adjudications has risen recently, all prisons now have an active anti-bullying strategy and there is some evidence that this leads, at least in the short term, to an increase in reported incidents.

Detention and Training Orders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people serving detention and training orders of eight months or more have been released early, broken down by institution in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The most recent data show that on 31 March 2002 there were 113 detention and training orders being served in secure training centres, 151 in local authority secure units and 2,047 in Prison Service establishments. There are no data held centrally on the number of people being released early from detention and training orders.

Temporary Licences

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children aged 18 were released on temporary licence during 2001, broken down by the purpose of the licence.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of 18-year-old prisoners released on temporary licence in 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Total Males Females 
		
		
			 Total 1,148 1,016 132 
			 Compassionate 42 25 17 
			 Facility 785 685 100 
			 Resettlement 321 306 15

Drugs

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money the Government allocated to drugs rehabilitation programmes and services in each of the financial years from 1997 to 2001; and how much of the allocated sums were spent.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not available in the form requested. Drug rehabilitation programmes form only part of a wider range of drug treatment interventions. During 1997–2001 they were funded through a number of mainstream community care funds from which it is impossible to ascertain exact amounts.
	Since 2001, however, they have been financed through the (ring-fenced) pooled treatment budget together with some mainstream funds. In 2000–01 the Pooled Treatment budget amounted to £234 million. This expanded in 2001–02 to £328 million.

Human Rights

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has made of the ECHR judgment in Edwards and Another v UK application No 46477/99.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 17 April 2002
	The European Court of Human Rights (the Court) found the United Kingdom in breach of Articles 2 and 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights in the case of Christopher Edwards who was murdered by his cell-mate, Richard Linford, in Chelmsford prison in November 1994.
	The Court found breaches of Article 2 in respect of the circumstances of Mr. Edwards' death (the failure of various agencies to pass on information about Mr. Linford's mental health and the inadequate health screen given to Mr. Linford at the prison) and the failure to provide an effective investigation. They ruled that there had been a breach of Article 13 due to the lack of an effective remedy available to Christopher's family either through an effective investigation or the payment of compensation.
	Mr. Edward's death was the subject of an independent investigation commissioned by the Prison Services and other agencies. The Court has not ordered a further investigation. Although it considered that there were defects, the investigation was regarded by the Court as having been thorough and useful. The Court found that the family were not eligible for compensation under United Kingdom civil law and awarded the sum of £20,000 plus costs (a further £20,000) by way of redress.
	The Court recognised the changes that have taken place since Mr. Edwards's death. These include introduction of the Prison Escort Record completed before a prisoner enters a Prison Service establishment and improved health care screening. The system of investigating deaths in Prison Service custody is currently under review as part of the Service's new suicide prevention strategy.

Prison Service

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been recruited and employed within the Prison Service during the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: 363 prison officers were recruited by the Prison Service during 2001–02. This figure excludes current staff who re-graded to prison officer during the year but includes staff beginning on the accelerated promotion scheme.

Prison Service

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unpaid hours of time off in lieu of hours worked by prison officers at Wandsworth prison there are.

Beverley Hughes: The number of hours of time off in lieu (TOIL) owed to staff at Wandsworth prison is approximately 5,130 hours for 305 staff.

Prison Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed in the Prison Service as (a) prison officers and (b) operational support grades in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 18 April 2002
	The information is contained in the table. Officer grades include; prison officers, senior officers and principal officers. Operational support grades (OSG) include prison auxiliaries and night patrols who are able to re-grade to prison officer grades.
	
		
			 As at 31 March Officer grades Operational support grades 
		
		
			 1997 23,058 3,925 
			 1998 23,444 5,207 
			 1999 23,875 5,687 
			 2000 24,090 5,939 
			 2001 23,777 5,956 
			 2002 23,052 6,669

Prison Service

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reviews of prison officer/staff ratios have taken place, and when, in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: The Prison Service publishes the staff to prisoner ratios for unified staff on an annual basis. A partial review of prison officer staff to prisoner ratios was issued on 23 October 2001. A record of local reviews of prison officer staff ratios is not available centrally.

Prisoners (Drug Use)

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether there is an incentive in prisons for prisoners to switch from using drugs that remain in the body for a long period to other substances;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 567W, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in the detection of cannabis use among prisoners by the mandatory drug testing programme.

Beverley Hughes: Mandatory drug testing (MDT) figures show that, overall, drug misuse in prisons has declined significantly over the past five years. The statistics suggest that much of this decline has been down to reductions in the use of cannabis, with opiate use static. Deterrence, supply reduction and treatment have been the key elements of the Prison Service's drug strategy and the decline in MDT rates gives evidence of its success.
	Available research evidence does not support the assertion that prisoners have switched from cannabis to other drugs which can only be detected for a shorter period. The Prison Service is continuing to look at this issue. The Institute of Psychiatry and the Office for National Statistics are currently reviewing the MDT programme, including the issue of switching. Their findings are expected in May 2002.

Cannabis

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what parliamentary procedure would be required to change the controlled substance classification of cannabis.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 19 April 2002
	If a decision to change classification is taken an Order in Council is needed to change the classification, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, of any controlled drug. Such an Order is subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure. The draft Order has to be debated in each House, and approved, then submitted to a meeting of the Privy Council for approval and signature.

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of drug treatment and testing orders have been breached since October 2000.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 22 April 2002
	The information is not available in the form requested. Between October 2000 and November 2001 information was only collected at national level on the number of applications for breach action which resulted in the Court ordering revocation of the order for unacceptable failure to comply. From November 2001 more comprehensive data is being collected to record all breach instigations.
	Between October 2000 and February 2002, 1,519 Drugs Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) have been revoked by the Courts for unacceptable failure to comply. This represents 27 per cent. of the 5,609 orders made during the period.

Drug Trafficking/Tobacco Smuggling

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the maximum penalty is for offences of (a) trafficking of class C drugs and (b) tobacco smuggling.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 22 April 2002
	The maximum penalty for importing a Class C controlled drug is five years imprisonment; that for assisting an offence outside the United Kingdom is 14 years imprisonment; that for producing a Class C controlled drug is five years imprisonment. This is also the maximum penalty for supplying and possessing with intent to supply a Class C controlled drug. The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is seven years imprisonment.

Money Laundering

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firms of solicitors in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales reported matters to NCIS relating to money laundering in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: From the data currently held relating to suspicious transaction reports made to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), it is not possible to differentiate between those made by solicitors firms in Scotland and those in England and Wales. However, the total number of reports received from solicitors in the United Kingdom as a whole was 164 in 2000 and 176 in 2001.

Football Hooligans

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals, by category, are classified as football hooligans in England and Wales.

John Denham: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 22 April 2002, Official Report, column 37W.

Prisoners' Property

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to improve the security of prisoners' property (a) in storage and (b) in transfer between establishments, including those operated by private contractors.

Beverley Hughes: There are no plans at present to alter existing procedures relating to the security of prisoners' property. These procedures are the same across the prison estate, including those establishments run by private contractors. A comprehensive review of matters relating to prisoners' property is currently being conducted and the issue of the security of property is being considered as part of the review.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Egypt

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the detention in Egypt of Mr. Nawaz from Southend and two other persons (Ref: 1–46906/02); and if officials of the embassy have been permitted to see them.

Ben Bradshaw: Mr. Nawaz and three other British Nationals have been detained in Egypt since 1 April. Consular access has been granted and the detainees have been visited twice, on 11 April and 23 April. On 18 April the ambassador met the Interior Minister to discuss the case and establish more information about the legal process. The ambassador has also raised the case in a meeting with the Foreign Minister on 11 April.

GCHQ

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the recruitment statistics for GCHQ in 2000.

Jack Straw: GCHQ notified the Civil Service Commissioners that as a result of recruitment schemes run in 2000, 324 individuals have joined the Department or are awaiting completion of the application process. This compares with 241 reported for 1999 recruitment schemes. In addition, one former member of staff was reappointed in 2000, compared with nine in 1999.

WALES

Local Government Finance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local authority the level of (a) rent and (b) council tax arrears in each year since 1993 in Wales.

Paul Murphy: Since 1 July 1999 this is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
	The following table lists the available information in respect of council tax arrears prior to July 1999.
	Comparable information in respect of rent arrears is not held centrally.
	
		Council tax outstanding at the end of each year, in respect of each individual year(14) -- £000
		
			 Former local authority 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 
		
		
			 Alyn and Deeside 582 432 175 
			 Colwyn 732 410 456 
			 Delyn 334 264 351 
			 Glyndwr 871 508 254 
			 Rhuddlan 327 288 294 
			 Wrexham Maelor 726 702 580 
			 Carmarthen 475 448 519 
			 Ceredigion 554 538 558 
			 Dinefwr 510 361 433 
			 Llanelli 524 503 526 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire 327 230 208 
			 South Pembrokeshire 407 304 332 
			 Blaenau Gwent 434 382 390 
			 Islwyn 365 241 217 
			 Monmouth 555 456 379 
			 Newport 787 694 619 
			 Torfaen 268 204 338 
			 Aberconwy 228 271 259 
			 Arfon 241 229 216 
			 Dwyfor 83 141 107 
			 Meirionnydd 151 261 169 
			 Ynys Mon 397 357 417 
			 Cynon Valley 197 170 184 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 215 205 162 
			 Ogwr 618 654 864 
			 Rhondda 227 169 246 
			 Rhymney Valley 373 336 419 
			 Taff Ely 401 428 465 
			 Brecknock 96 162 166 
			 Montgomeryshire 207 203 251 
			 Radnorshire 93 98 104 
			 Cardiff 1,954 2,101 2,338 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 500 453 655 
			 Port Talbot 263 270 276 
			 Lliw Valley 237 238 235 
			 Neath 311 252 370 
			 Swansea 1,005 1,336 1,344 
			  
			 Total Wales 16,575 15,299 15,876 
			 Percentage of total debit 6.1 5.4 4.9 
		
	
	(14) Amounts outstanding at the end of each year in respect of the council tax due for that year. Previous year's arrears are not included.
	
		Council tax outstanding at the end of each year, in respect of each individual year(15) -- £000
		
			 Current local authority 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 
		
		
			 Isle of Anglesey 306 313 402 
			 Gwynedd 595 638 689 
			 Conwy 705 728 887 
			 Denbighshire 1,309 767 703 
			 Flintshire 1,250 1,177 1,376 
			 Wrexham 810 822 920 
			 Powys 393 383 1,445 
			 Ceredigion 648 808 1,266 
			 Pembrokeshire 387 488 540 
			 Carmarthenshire 1,448 2,399 2,536 
			 Swansea 1,923 2,017 2,790 
			 Neath Port Talbot 915 967 991 
			 Bridgend 945 1,009 1,107 
			 The Vale of Glamorgan 537 692 972 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 1,234 2,319 2,242 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 161 176 249 
			 Caerphilly 1,006 1,004 1,158 
			 Blaenau Gwent 404 652 658 
			 Torfaen 419 354 917 
			 Monmouthshire 597 419 403 
			 Newport 674 792 913 
			 Cardiff 3,244 4,015 4,048 
			  
			 Total Wales 19,910 22,939 27,212 
			 Percentage of total debit 5.2 5.6 5.8 
		
	
	(15) Amounts outstanding at the end of each year in respect of the council tax due for that year. Previous year's arrears are not included.

Strategic Rail Authority Funding

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to ensure that in future Wales is allocated a greater share of Strategic Rail Authority funding.

Paul Murphy: Allocation of such funding is a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority. To assist the Strategic Rail Authority in delivering the 10-year transport plan targets, the Government are providing it with an extra £155 million over the next two years. I will shortly be meeting Richard Bowker, Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, and will be discussing their Strategic Plan, and in particular the Welsh dimension.
	Welsh travellers will benefit from investment in improved rail links outside Wales, just as those from elsewhere in the UK will benefit from investment in Wales. In these circumstances a simple population share division of investment could be disadvantageous to rail travellers in Wales and I have no intention of pressing the SRA to adopt such an approach.
	The Assembly also has a close working relationship with the Strategic Rail Authority, well beyond the formal requirement in the Transport Act which requires that the Strategic Rail Authority consult the Assembly on its strategies relating to Wales.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Personal Injury Pre-action Protocol

Terry Rooney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the personal injury pre-action protocol was introduced; and what changes have been made since its inception.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 April 2002
	The personal injury pre-action protocol was published in January 1999 and came into force from 26 April 1999. Some minor amendments were introduced in June 2000 following suggestions from the personal injury protocol working party. The amendments were aimed at clarifying various elements, such as the scope of the protocol, rather than substantive changes.
	The personal injury working party is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the protocol and will be considering what, if any, further amendments may be required. The first meeting of the working party to discuss the review is scheduled for 7 May 2002.

Personal Injury Pre-action Protocol

Terry Rooney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to issue guidance on the case of Carlson v. Townsend heard in the Court of Appeal in April 2001.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 April 2002
	My Department has no plans to issue guidance on the case of Carlson v. Townsend.
	That said, the judgment in that case will be one of the issues considered by the personal injury protocol working party as part of its comprehensive review of the protocol.

Personal Injury Pre-action Protocol

Terry Rooney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the implications are for the operation of the personal injury pre-action protocol arising out of the case of Carlson v. Townsend heard in the Court of Appeal in April 2001.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 April 2002
	The question of whether the personal injury pre-action protocol will require redrafting in the light of this judgment is one of the issues that will be considered by the personal injury protocol working party as part of its comprehensive review. The first meeting of the working party to discuss the review is scheduled for 7 May 2002.

Personal Injury Pre-action Protocol

Terry Rooney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what obligation there is on the part of a defendant to disclose medical reports to a third party under the personal injury pre-action protocol.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 April 2002
	Under the personal injury pre-action protocol parties are encouraged to exchange information but are not obliged to do so. However, if the dispute proceeds to court, the judge may impose costs sanctions if it is deemed that by not disclosing information the party has acted unreasonably.

Transsexuals

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she proposes to implement the recommendations of the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People, April 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The report has been considered carefully within Government and by other interested groups. The Government are sympathetic to the issues raised in the report and is considering actively how to take the matter forward.

Legal Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much legal aid has been spent on family related issues since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Net expenditure on legal aid in family-related matters since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 389.8 
			 1998–99 423.5 
			 1999–2000 (16)399.8 
			 2000–01 419.4 
		
	
	(16) Figures for 1999–2000 do not include the cost of acts of assistance provided under contracting pilot schemes.
	Figures are not yet available for the 2001–02 financial year.

Legal Services Commission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost was of administering the Legal Services Commission in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission was created by the Access to Justice Act 1999 and came into existence on 1 April 2000. The Grant in Aid Costs for the Commission are as follows:
	
		£ million 
		
			   Grant in aid costs 
		
		
			 2000–01 72.700 
			 2001–02 70.350 
		
	
	The staff cost to the Lord Chancellor's Department of administering the Commission is not immediately available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Tribunal Justice

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the Government's response to the Leggatt report on tribunal justice.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are currently considering their response to the Leggatt review and will make a statement at an appropriate time later in the year.
	The Government's response will take into account the public consultation exercise completed in December 2001, which generated over 350 responses.

Data Protection Act

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether guidance will be issued to staff on the handling of subject access requests under section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Michael Wills: My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor has recently issued central guidance on the handling of subject access requests. I have placed a copy of this guidance in the House Library.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Complaints

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints were registered against his Department and its predecessor Departments in (a) 1990 to 1996 and (b) 1997 to 2002; how many are current; and what proportion were (i) taken up and (ii) upheld by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in those periods.

Christopher Leslie: Details of complaints against the Cabinet Office are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of complaints taken up and upheld by the Parliamentary Commissioner are contained in the Parliamentary Ombudsman's annual report. Copies of the annual reports covering the periods specified are available in the Library of the House, and for annual reports from 1997–98 are available on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at:
	www.ombudsman.org.uk/pca/document/par01/index.htm

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Bills introduced by his Department in the last five years have contained sunset clauses; and what plans he has for the future use of such clauses.

Christopher Leslie: No Bills introduced by my Department during the period in question have contained sunset clauses. However, as part of their better regulation agenda, the Government are committed to using sunset clauses where appropriate.

Civil Service Secondments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average percentage is of civil service staff on loan from one UK Government Department to another UK Government Department per UK Government Department.

Christopher Leslie: The following table shows civil service staff reported as on loan to other Departments, as a percentage of the total staff in that Department, as at 1 April 2001.
	
		Staff on loan to other Government Departments, by Government Department, as at 1 April 2001
		
			 Importing Department Staff on loan Total staff Percentage 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 540 1,804 29.9 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 3 5,832 0.1 
			 Culture, Media and Sport 83 633 13.1 
			 Customs and Excise 10 22,439 0.0 
			 Department for Education and Employment 35 39,296 0.1 
			 Department for National Savings 0 123 0.0 
			 Department of Health 80 5,708 1.4 
			 Department of Social Security 40 88,793 0.0 
			 Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 111 16,728 0.7 
			 Department of Trade and Industry 84 10,300 0.8 
			 Export Credit Guarantee Department 10 384 2.6 
			 Health and Safety Executive/Commission 8 4,058 0.2 
			 Home Office (Main) 52 16,743 0.3 
			 Charity Commission 2 547 0.4 
			 HM Prison Service 2 42,719 0.0 
			 Inland Revenue 54 71,775 0.1 
			 Lord Chancellor's Department 23 11,227 0.2 
			 Ministry of Defence 52 86,722 0.1 
			 Office for National Statistics 14 3,214 0.4 
			 Office of Fair Trading 58 505 11.5 
			 Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland 1 93 1.1 
			 Privy Council Office 17 38 44.7 
			 Registry of Friendly Societies 1 5 20.0 
			 Scottish Executive 22 5,101 0.4 
			 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal 1 1,222 0.1 
			 Security and Intelligence Services 21 4,492 0.5 
			 HM Treasury 148 850 17.4 
			  
			 Total 1,472 441,351 0.3 
		
	
	The table represents a snapshot figure as at 1 April 2001. In the year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, there were 1,577 instances of loans inward to all Government Departments, and 1,694 instances of loans outward. Inter-departmental mobility is a key factor in the delivery of the Modernising Government Agenda. It is important because
	1. it reinforces the appeal of variety in an individual's career and can aid staff development;
	2. experience of other Government Departments/agencies encourages individuals to think across departmental boundaries and work in partnership, exchanging ideas and good practice;
	3. it contributes to the creation of a diverse, but unified, civil service.

TREASURY

Flat Rate Scheme

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a summary of responses to the consultation on the flat rate scheme.

Paul Boateng: Customs have produced a summary of responses, which will be placed in the House Libraries, with copies also of the individual responses to the consultation.

Equal Treatment

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has established a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment; and what progress has been achieved.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 14 March 2002
	A basis assessment of gender effects is one aspect of the equality impact assessment that goes into the formulation of tax policy advice. Like other aspects of Budget policy, this is coordinated by HM Treasury.
	The Treasury Guidance for the 2002 Spending Review emphasises that Departments must consider key cross- Government agenda, including equality and sustainable development, and how to implement them in their submissions to the review. The guidance explicitly states that Departments' analysis should also highlight any significant distributional effects—e.g. between regions, types of environment, generations or gender—in their proposals.
	Moreover, several of the cross-cutting reviews in the 2002 Spending Review have remits, which include promotion of equality, such as reviews of the public sector labour market and tackling health inequalities.
	The Treasury has worked closely with organisations such as the Women and Equality Unit and the Women's Budget Group (WBG)—and an independent UK organisation of gender experts—in order to improve its understanding of gender impact and its analytical capacity.
	Analysis is included in internal advice put to Ministers during the development of policy. Policy makers are required to look at the impact legislative proposals may have across the range of equality issues—e.g. race, disability, age and gender. Policy makers have access to guidance on equality impact assessments on an intranet site, which includes information on policy appraisal for equal treatment—and also includes the draft gender mainstreaming guidance produced by the Women's Unit.

Customs and Excise

Tom Levitt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if Customs and Excise make random checks on private passengers in order to detect the illegal import of meat and meat products;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the relative cost- effectiveness of measures used by Customs and Excise to detect the illegal import of (a) drugs, (b) explosives, (c) tobacco and (d) meat and meat products;
	(3)  what priority is given by Customs and Excise to the prevention of the illegal import of meat and meat products;
	(4)  what use Customs and Excise make of trained dogs to detect the illegal import of meat and meat products and how this is co-ordinated with dogs working on (a) explosives, (b) tobacco and (c) drugs detection;
	(5)  how many people were found by Customs and Excise to be illegally importing meat and meat products in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(6)  how illegally imported meat and meat products seized by Customs and Excise are disposed of;
	(7)  what steps Customs and Excise are taking to prevent the illegal import of meat and meat products.

Paul Boateng: Import controls to detect illegal import of meat and meat products are the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and local or port health officers. HM Customs and Excise does not therefore specifically target its checks against the risk of illegal import and meat products and does not use dogs to detect such illegal imports.
	Customs does however support the controls to prevent illegal import of meat and meat products by:
	dealing with meat and meat products found in the course of checks made in relation to the wide range of controls for which Customs does have lead enforcement responsibility;
	participating in joint exercises organised by DEFRA or local or port health officers;
	supporting DEFRA and local port health officers with information to assist in detection of illegal imports; and
	contributing to the DEFRA led illegal imports programme, for example by assisting in developing risk assessment.
	Customs only seize illegal meat and meat products detected in passengers' baggage or found in the post or where the meat is controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any other detections are detained and referred to the appropriate enforcement authority to take action. Meat and meat products seized by Customs are disposed of through arrangements made by the local or port health authority.
	Central records identifying Customs' seizures of meat and meat products are only available from the year 2000. Details for calendar years 2000 and 2001 are:
	2000
	263 seizures made from persons arriving in the UK
	186 seizures made from postal packages
	2001
	788 seizures made from persons arriving in the UK
	237 seizures made from postal packages.

Heritage Assets

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if the heritage assets of the (a) Office for National Statistics and (b) Royal Mint to which values cannot be described are outside the remit of resource accounting and budgeting;
	(2)  whether the Valuation Office's heritage items which are not recorded on the Agency's fixed asset register as current assets but are controlled separately as valuable and attractive items are outside the remit of resource accounting and budgeting;
	(3)  what the definition is of a non-operational heritage asset, as described in HM Customs and Excise's entry in the National Assets Register; and if non-operational heritage assets are outside the remit of resource accounting and budgeting.

Andrew Smith: All assets held by Departments must be accounted for in accordance with resource accounting policies, as set out in the Resource Accounting Manual.
	The Manual—which is drawn up following advice from the independent Financial Reporting Advisory Board—recognises that certain assets are held primarily for their cultural and heritage significance. The Manual specifies that in certain circumstances, Departments need not capitalise or value such assets.

Heritage Assets

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to sell heritage assets that are outside the remit of resource accounting and budgeting.

Andrew Smith: None of HM Treasury's antiques are classified as 'heritage assets'.

Heritage Assets

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the lots of silver that HM Treasury withdrew from auction on 29 October 2001 are part of the 250 items listed as antique assets on page 613 of the National Asset Register.

Andrew Smith: Yes.

Tax and Excise Duty

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the cost of collection, (b) the revenue realised and (c) the cost as a proportion of the revenue of each (i) tax and (ii) excise duty in the last year for which information is available.

Andrew Smith: Inland Revenue's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2001 was laid in Parliament in December 2001 as Command paper 5304 and includes on page 35 a detailed analysis of the cost of collection by tax head. HM Customs and Excise have recently produced an analysis of their costs of collecting taxes and duties in 2000–01, as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Tax/duty Total net current cost (£ million) Revenue collected (£ million) Cost as percentage of revenue collected 
		
		
			 VAT 406.1 58,622 0.69 
			 Insurance premium tax 2.0 1,707 0.12 
			 Excise duties 53.4 38,444 0.14 
			 Air passenger duty 0.8 949 0.08 
			 Landfill tax 1.8 462 0.38 
			 Customs duties 110.3 2,099 5.26

Core Debt

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what intervals the figures for core debt will be published.

Andrew Smith: Estimates for core debt will be updated in future Budget and pre-Budget report forecasts as set out in Box 2.4, page 35 of the 2002 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report.

Community Investment Tax Credit

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the community investment tax credit will be implemented; and how it will work.

Paul Boateng: Legislation for the Community Investment Tax Credit is being brought forward in the Finance Bill. The scheme will come into force as soon as possible after state aids approval is obtained.
	The scheme will offer tax relief to individual and corporate investors who make qualifying investments, through intermediaries, in enterprises in disadvantaged communities. The intermediaries must be accredited as Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) under the rules of the scheme. CDFIs provide capital and technical assistance to businesses and social enterprises in disadvantaged communities that find it difficult to access mainstream commercial finance. Qualifying investments are debt or equity investments made for a minimum period of five years.
	The amount of the tax relief is 5 per cent. of the amount invested for the tax year (or accounting period for a corporate investor) in which an investment which qualifies for the scheme is made, and for each of the following four years or periods, making a total of 25 per cent. of the amount of the investment in all. The tax relief is set against the investor's income tax or corporation tax liability as appropriate. So for example, an individual investing £10,000 in an accredited CDFI for at least five years could obtain a reduction in their income tax liability of £500 for the tax year in which the investment was made and for each of the four following years, making a total tax reduction of £2,500 over five years.

VAT

George Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason motor accident repair shops wholly owned by insurance companies are exempt from charging VAT on the labour element of the service.

Paul Boateng: Such motor repair shops are not exempted from VAT. However, it is a fundamental principle of VAT that the use by a business of its own staff is outside the scope of VAT.

VAT

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was raised in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 by automatic fines imposed by Customs and Excise on firms responsible for late payment.

Paul Boateng: The VAT default surcharge system is the only fully automated system within Customs and Excise for applying fines for late payments. During 2000–01, penalties totalling £87 million were paid by businesses who were late paying tax declared on VAT returns. The total for 2001–02 is £75 million (subject to year end accounting adjustments).

VAT

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses he expects to benefit from the removal for companies with a turnover of under £100,000 of the requirement that a business has to be VAT-registered for 12 months before using the annual accounting scheme.

Paul Boateng: As a result of the measures announced in the Budget, approximately 140,000 traders in 2002–03 will have the opportunity to use the annual accounting scheme earlier than would have otherwise been the case.

VAT

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow sixth form colleges the same VAT exemptions as secondary schools which have sixth forms.

Paul Boateng: VAT is not charged on education taught in sixth form colleges or in sixth forms within secondary schools. The funding of sixth form colleges takes into account the VAT they pay on their purchases.

Public Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £420 billion allocated for public expenditure in 2003–04 he estimates will be spent in 2003–04.

Andrew Smith: Total public expenditure in 2003–04 is projected to be £454.6 billion (Table C11, Financial Statement and Budget Report 2002, HC592).

Rogues Report

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish up-dated versions of tables 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of the Rogues report to include figures for 2000–01.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 14 January 2002
	Where available, the Government will publish updates on levels of fraud and other relevant statistics on a routine, annual basis in line with the framework set out in the Customs and Excise paper, "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud", which was published as part of the pre-Budget report package.

HEALTH

Care Standards (Older People)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consultation his Department has undertaken with housing and social services to ensure that the Better Care Higher Standards charter is working, as set out on page 172 of the milestones of the National Service Framework for Older People; and what areas of the charter have been found to have shortcomings;
	(2)  how many (a) reviews are being undertaken and (b) actions plans are being developed to correct shortcomings reflected in the Better Care Higher Standards charter as set out on page 172 of the milestones of the National Service Framework for Older People;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Better Care Higher Standards charter is working, as set out on page 172 of the milestones of the National Service Framework for Older People.

Jacqui Smith: The Department commissioned the Nuffield Institute for Health to undertake a full analysis of the first round of local "Better Care, Higher Standards" charters in the summer of 2000. In March 2001, the Department and the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) jointly published (LAC(2001)6/HSC 2001–06) further guidance on the development of "Better Care, Higher Standards" charters for the two years 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	By the end of June each year, local councils are expected to publish a local "Better Care, Higher Standards" charter for the year and an annual report, reviewing progress in meeting previous charter standards and targets, and setting out future plans. Councils and their partners are also expected to carry out annual user and carer surveys, the outcomes of which are expected to feed into the annual reports and to drive up standards of service.
	In the light of local charters to be published by the end of June 2002, the Department will carry out a review of the effectiveness of "Better Care, Higher Standards" charters.

Care Standards (Older People)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many councils have reviewed their eligibility criteria for adult social care to ensure they do not discriminate against age as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People, page 172.

Jacqui Smith: Guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care will be issued to councils with social services responsibilities shortly. It will provide a framework so that, within their resources, councils review and revise their eligibility criteria according to individuals' needs and associated risks to independence. Through implementing the guidance, councils will fulfil the first stage requirement of standard one of the national service framework for older people with respect to eliminating age discrimination.

Children in Care

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children up to the age of 16 years were under the care of social services departments in the UK on 1 April.

Jacqui Smith: The number of children aged under 16, who were looked after by local councils in England at 31 March 2001, was 49,600.
	This figure excludes children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
	Information for the number of children looked after in Wales and Scotland is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament.

Children in Care

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children up to the age of 16 years have disappeared while living in social services care in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		Estimated number of looked after children aged under 16 whose last placement in their care history is recorded as being absent from agreed placement, by age at start of last placement, for years ending 31 March 1996 to 2000 England
		
			 Year ending 31 March Number 
		
		
			 1996 40 
			 1997 65 
			 1998 55 
			 1999 30 
			 2000 90 
		
	
	Notes:
	Local councils only recorded children as being missing from their agreed placement after they had been missing for a period in excess of seven days.
	All figures rounded to nearest five
	Above table excludes children looked after under a series of short term placements
	Source:
	DH Annual Statistical returns (CLA Episode system)

Long Stay Patients Benefit

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with mental illness in the United Kingdom are in receipt of long stay patients benefit.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not collected centrally.

North-East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Health Authority

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the cost has been of provisionally locating the strategic health authority HQ for north and east Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire on the York science park;
	(2)  what the total cost of establishing the north and east Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire health authority (designate) has been.

Jacqui Smith: The only cost incurred in provisionally locating and establishing the strategic health authority (StHA) HQ for north and east Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire is for the rent of two offices in the York science park for February and March 2002. This will be approximately £3,500. This is the project office for the StHA pending a discussion about its permanent location.
	An option appraisal completed prior to the appointment of the chairman and chief executive (designate) has been shared with the Department's regional office and national health service estates. The chairman and chief executive (designate) have asked for a business case to be prepared for consideration by the StHA board at its first meeting. This is being prepared by Capitec. All the existing NHS accommodation is proposed for future use in each locality and will largely accommodate primary care trust staff including shared services to support these organisations.
	The communication about the proposed location of the StHA HQ has given rise to significant correspondence from local authorities and MPs on the north and south bank of the Humber. These concerns will be made apparent to the StHA board at its shadow meeting on 20 March.
	The creation of the StHA is part of the Government's "Shifting the Balance of Power in the NHS" proposals which are committed to delivering savings of £100 million for reinvestment in services.

Care Workers (Training)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities have directly funded the training costs for care workers employed by (a) local authorities and (b) independent providers to National Vocational Qualification level II.

John Hutton: holding answer 26 March 2002
	Central national health service budgets for the education and training of healthcare staff do not fund the training costs of employees of local authorities or independent providers.

National Care Standards Commission

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) budget and (b) staff are allocated to media relations in the National Care Standards Commission.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 26 March 2002
	The budget allocation for the National Care Standards Commission does not specifically identify either funding or the staff allocation for media relations. Decisions on such staff numbers and budget are a matter for the NCSC to decide from their overall budget, consistent with their management statement, financial memorandum and business plan as agreed with the Department. The management statement and financial memorandum can be viewed on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/ ncsc/manangementstatement.pdf. On publication the business plan will also be available on the Department's website.

Primary Care Centres

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many one-stop primary care centres are under construction;
	(2)  how many one-stop primary care centres have been opened since the publication of the NHS National Plan.

John Hutton: The latest published information as at 31 December 2001 indicates that 68 One Stop Primary Care Centres are in place following publication of the NHS Plan.
	This is expected to rise to 102 by 31 March 2002.

Beta-interferon

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of Beta-interferon to multiple sclerosis sufferers in the East Surrey health authority area.

Hazel Blears: In line with the recommendation from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence we have concluded an agreement with five companies on an innovative scheme which allows patients with multiple sclerosis meeting the criteria of the Association of British Neurologists to be treated cost-effectively with disease modifying therapies on the national health service. The companies have agreed terms for the supply of their products under the scheme. Patients will be monitored to confirm whether the drugs are working. Prices will be reduced if patients do not benefit as expected. The scheme starts on 6 May 2002.
	Multiple Sclerosis sufferers in the East Surrey area will, from then, have access to beta interferon on the same basis as other NHS patients. NHS bodies are expected to fund any treatment within this scheme prescribed by clinicians for eligible patients, in accordance with statutory directions. Consultant neurologists, in consultation with patients, will have a choice of treatments within the scheme taking into account expected benefit and potential side effects. The products included in the scheme are Avonex (Biogen), Betaferon (Schering), Copaxone (Teva/Aventis), Rebif 22 mg and 44 mg (Serono).
	Patients whose condition does not come within the ABN guidelines and who are currently receiving treatment with these drugs will continue to do so in line with NICE's recommendation on this point. I am also taking steps to ensure that those patients who have funded their treatment privately because the drug was not available to them locally on the NHS have had the costs of their prescription met since 4 February.
	Copies of the health service circular issued to the NHS to explain the scheme have been placed in the Library.

Primary Care Trusts (Operational Status)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received from the (a) East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust and (b) West Hull Primary Care Trust concerning operational status prior to 1 April.

Jacqui Smith: Representations have not been received from either the East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust or the West Hull Primary Care Trust concerning operational status prior to 1 April. The primary care trusts were established after full and open consultation locally, giving every opportunity for views and concerns to be expressed and addressed at that stage.

Heroin

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of the drug naltrexone being taken in implant form in the rehabilitation of heroin addicts.

Hazel Blears: No assessment of the benefits of naltrexone being taken in implant form in the rehabilitation of heroin users has yet been made. This is because a sufficiently developed evidence base does not yet exist. Naltrexone in implant form is not currently licensed for this indication in the United Kingdom. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) for drug misuse treatment, will continue to monitor the evidence for this proposed treatment.

Lymphoedema

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of clinics which treat lymphoedema in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 April 2002
	Data on the number of lymphoedema clinics across England and at a local level are not collected centrally.

Hearing Aids

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health bodies have bid for allocations to support the provision of digital hearing aids following his Christmas Eve 2001 announcement on the subject; for how much each has bid; what resources are available centrally for this purpose; and when he expects to respond to these bids.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 April 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) and the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 465W. Discussions will now take place between the project management team and those sites joining the project to determine the resources each will need.

Wheelchairs

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) electrically powered and (b) manual wheelchairs meet the health and safety requirements of their users in terms of their (i) inherent design, (ii) regular servicing and (iii) planned replacement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 April 2002
	The Medical Devices Agency, (MDA), has specific responsibility on behalf of the Secretary of State to safeguard public health where medical devices are involved.
	Within this overall remit, MDA has a specific unit responsible for wheeled mobility devices where all reported incidents concerning the quality or safety of wheelchairs are considered. If the units investigation highlights a need for an improvement in a wheelchairs design, usage or servicing information then appropriate action is taken with the manufacturer/supplier concerned.
	MDA has also issued comprehensive guidance to health services relating to the management of medical devices including the provision of appropriate repair and maintenance procedures and the consideration of whole life costs and life cycle of devices. This guidance has now been incorporated into the new NHS Controls Assurance Standards for medical devices to give all health services basic standards in this area.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding people being placed inappropriately in (a) residential care homes and (b) nursing homes.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 April 2002
	In recent years the Department of Health has received representations about inappropriate placements. Systematic information on these representations is not collated.
	The introduction of the single assessment process, and the development of preventative and intermediate care services, will help to ensure that placements in care homes are appropriate. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 926W.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 942W, regarding free nursing care, which agencies have failed to pass on the free nursing care payment to residents;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 942W, regarding free nursing care, whether she has received further representations regarding failures to pass on the free nursing care payments to residents;
	(3)  pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 942W, regarding free nursing care, what plans she has to provide additional funding to residents of the four homes she wrote to which have failed to receive financial benefit from their free nursing care payment;
	(4)  pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 942W, regarding free nursing care, whether she will also be writing to these care homes to inform them of the breach in national model contract.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 April 2002
	I continue to receive correspondence on this subject. I wrote to some national providers about the increases in fees that some residents had experienced since the introduction of national health service funded nursing care. It should not be inferred that all those providers have, in every case, failed to pass on to residents any financial benefit from the NHS funding for part of their care. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 942W.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 2002, Official Report, column 310W, on care homes, when the booklet, 'Moving into a Care Home', was published; how much the booklet cost to produce and distribute; and what other means are being considered to ensure the widest possible circulation; and how much the new booklet has cost to produce.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 April 2002
	The booklet 'Moving into a Care Home' was published in October 1996. It focused on financial issues for residents. At today's prices, it would cost approximately £10,000 to produce and distribute 3,000 copies of the original booklet free of charge to councils and other interested parties. The booklet was drafted and consulted upon by departmental staff. These and related costs were absorbed within the Department's running costs and are not separately identifiable, and therefore not included in the cost given above.
	A voluntary organisation called 'Counsel and Care' has been commissioned to produce a new booklet for people both entering and in residential care that will be much more detailed and cover a much wider range of topics in addition to residents' finances. It will be distributed on the same basis. In addition, an electronic version will be placed on the internet. The Department awarded a grant of £80,000 for Counsel and Care for this work, which will also include the costs of dissemination events in the form of conferences and seminars.

Care Homes

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the availability of sufficient residential and nursing home places for the elderly.

Jacqui Smith: Our policy is to enable older people to remain independent in their own homes wherever possible. That is where most people want to receive care. Between 2000 and 2001 there was a 6 per cent. increase in the number of households receiving intensive home care.
	We are providing local authorities with an additional £300 million over this year and last to spend on a range of community care services, including care home placements. In addition, as announced on 17 April by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, we intend to increase resources for personal social services by an annual average of 6 per cent. in real terms from 2003–04 to 2005–06. Local authorities will be able to use these substantial extra resources to stabilise the care home market and to provide more care home places.
	I chair a Strategic Commissioning Group, which aims to improve the commissioning of care services for adults. Last October, the group published an agreement, "Building Capacity and Partnership in Care", which will help councils and independent sector providers to work together to promote a more strategic, inclusive and consistent approach to local capacity planning.

Ambulance Services

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on the review of south-east ambulance services in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001.

Hazel Blears: No additional work force costs were incurred as most of the work in connection with the review of ambulance services in the south-east has been carried out by existing civil servants at the Department and staff at health authorities and trusts. Additional costs were incurred for printing and the hire of church halls etc. for public meetings.
	The wide ranging nature of the consultation and the number of organisations involved have meant that a central collation of costs has not been possible.

Smallpox Vaccine

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whom he consulted in deciding (a) the number of units of smallpox vaccine required for production in the UK and (b) the number of individuals to be covered;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the process by which it was decided to use the Lister strain of the smallpox virus for vaccination of the UK population.

John Hutton: holding answer 18 April 2002
	The choice of smallpox vaccine strain, the number of units of vaccine and the number of individuals to be covered, was made on the basis of expert advice, under the auspices of a specially convened sub-group of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
	Information concerning quantities of vaccine or deployment are not made public for reasons of national security.

Smallpox Vaccine

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which companies were asked to tender for the contract to supply smallpox vaccine for the NHS.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 April 2002
	Detailed confidential discussions were held with five major pharmaceutical companies who were known to have vaccine manufacturing capability either in the UK or in Europe. Our requirements for the vaccine strain, timing, and delivery were made clear to each of the companies, who were then given time to submit their responses.

Medical Compression Tights

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) NHS managers and (b) private companies, about the provision of extra large medical compression tights; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 April 2002
	None.

Drug Treatment Centres

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implication of the refusal of planning permission by local authorities in respect of drug treatment centres for the Government's strategy of increasing treatment facilities for drug users; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There is currently no evidence that this is a widespread national problem and in fact current data indicate a rise of about 16 per cent. over the past two years of those drug misusers entering treatment. These figures mean that the Government are on track to meet the target of increasing the number of drug misusers in treatment by 100 per cent. by 2008. The Government are of course aware of the negative impact that refusal of planning permission locally could have on the Government's aim of increasing the number of drug misusers accessing treatment.
	Local authorities are autonomous bodies, accountable to their electorates, and the Government do not routinely comment on, or intervene in, their day-to-day administration of the planning system. Nor would it be appropriate for a Minister to comment on the merits of an individual planning decision, because of the appellate role of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. It is for the local planning authority to assess each planning proposal on its individual merits, in the light of the authority's development plan and of any other considerations material to planning.

Elderly People (Care Facilities)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of people over (a) 95 and (b) 100 who are being cared for in (i) an NHS hospital and (ii) a nursing home.

Jacqui Smith: We do not have data available in the form requested. However, there were an estimated 57,910 nursing beds occupied by people aged 85 and over being cared for in private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics in England during the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. This represented 38 per cent. of all occupied beds.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the UK are diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; how many new patients were diagnosed with the condition in each of the last six years; and what the annual mortality rate for children and young adults with the condition was in the last six years.

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the annual rate is of new diagnosis for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the UK;
	(2)  what the mortality rate for children and young adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy was in the last 12 months.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence has been of new diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in each of the last three years; and what the annual death rate is for children and young adults with this condition.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect statistics on the incidence of individual conditions.

Anti-stab Vests

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce the provision of light-weight anti-stab vests for front line ambulance personnel.

Hazel Blears: There are no national plans to introduce the provision of light-weight anti-stab vests for front line ambulance personnel. The use of anti-stab vests is something local managers in ambulance trusts need to consider after undertaking a thorough assessment of the risk faced by their staff, and the need for this type of protective wear.
	The London Ambulance NHS Trust has recently piloted the use of anti-stab vests at two ambulance stations. The evaluation of the pilots was positive, and this information is being shared with all other NHS ambulance trusts.

Spinal Cord Injury

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Department has spent on research into spinal cord injury since 1997; what efforts have been made with (a) his European counterparts and (b) the World Health Organisation to increase resources for the treatment of spinal cord injury; and what measures have been introduced to help people suffering from spinal cord injury.

Jacqui Smith: Since 1997–98 we have spent around £5 million on research of relevance to spinal injuries. We also support a great deal of basic underpinning work on the structure and function of the nervous system; spend on this is not included in the figure above.
	We have not been asking either the World Health Organisation or our European counterparts to increase resources for the treatment of spinal cord injury.
	In February 2001 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that a national service framework would be developed for long-term conditions, and that this would have a particular focus on the needs of people with neurological disease and brain and spinal injury.

Correspondence

James Cran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 25 July 2001 from RD Fouracre and subsequent correspondence of 6 November 2001 and 7 February 2002.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 April 2002
	I regret the Department was unable to trace the original correspondence. Following receipt of further information from the hon. Member on 18 April, a reply was sent on 23 April.

Modern Matrons

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the modern matron posts were (a) newly created and (b) redesignated from existing nursing staff posts.

John Hutton: Trusts were not required to submit information on how many of their modern matrons were newly created or redesignated from existing nursing staff.
	All of the 1,895 posts comply with the requirements set out in HSC 2001/010.

Child Protection

Gillian Shephard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the increase announced in the Budget for social services departments, will be devoted to child protection.

Jacqui Smith: Detailed decisions on the allocation of resources will follow in the autumn.

Ambulance Accidents

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries have resulted from road accidents involving ambulances; and how much compensation has been paid out, in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.